EXPOSITION. GENERAL ACCOUNT OF NEHEMIAH'S vol. v. p. 150, E. Tr. ). However this may 0OVERNMENT (vers. 14 - 19). Having have been, be certainly disbursed large sums given this account of the internal difficulties of money in Jerusalem, and must have done which threatened to put a stop to the build- something to alleviate the general poverty ing of the wall before it was well begun, and by his lavish expenditnre. He takes credit, been led in the course of it to speak of the further, for giving the services of his private poverty and sufferings of !he common people, attendants to the work of the wall during the Nehemiah not unnaturally goes on to inform whole time that it was in building (ver. 16), us of the methods by which in his general and for having abstained from the purchase government he endeavoured to alleviate the of any land, when, through the general distress, or at any rate to avoid adding to poverty, it might have been bought at a low the burthens which pressed upon the poorer price from those who were anxious to part classes. From the time that he entered upon with it (ibid.). His conduct beyond a doubt his office, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, stood in the strongest contrast with that of B.c. 444, to the time of his writing this por- the ordinary Persian satrap, or other gov- tion of his Book, in the thirty-second year of ernor, and we cannot be surprised that be the same king, B. c. 432, he had lived entirely looked on it with some complacency. He at his own expense, requiring no contribu- felt that be had done much for his people. tions from the people, either in provisions He looked, however, for his reward not to or money, for the support of himself or his them, not to man, but to God ; and desired court (ver. 14). This was quite contrary to that his reward should be not present grati- the previous practice of Jewish governors tude and thanks, not even posthumous fame, (ver. 15), and indeed of Oriental governors but God's approval and remembrance only generally, whether under the Persian system (var. 19). "Think upon me, my God, for or any other, such persons almost univers- good, according to all that I have done for ally taxing their provinces, sometimes very this people." heavily, for their current expenses, and often accumulating princely fortunes by their Ver. 14. -From the day that I was exactions. Nehemiah had also maintained appointed. Literally, "from the day that he (i. e. Artaxerxes) appointed me." From 11, noble hospitality, of which he may be the twentieth year. See above, eh. ii. 1. excused for being a little proud, during The appointment, having taken place in these twelve years of his governorship, enter- Nisan, was in B.c. 444. Unto the two and taining daily at his table 160 of the chief thirtieth year. We see hero that this chap- inhabitants of Jerusalem, besides many ter, and therefore, probably, the entire first section (chs. i-vii.) of this Book, was not foreign Jews who from time to time came written until B.C. 432, the year in which on visits to the Judrean capital (vers. 17, Nehemiah returned to the Persian court 18), It is conjectured that he was able to from Jerusalem (eh. xiii. 6). I and my take this course, and spend so largely with- brethren have not eaten the bread of the out receiving any income from his province, governor. I. e. "have not lived at the expense of our subjects, as Persian governors because he retained his place of cupbearer, do ordinarily." Nehemiah's brethren here and as such drew a large salary from the are probably not bis brothers only, but his. Persian court (Ewald, History of Israel,• en tire court. 68 THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. [CH, V. 14-19.
Ver. 15.-The former governor• that had lewa and rulers. The "hundred nnd fift,)' '' been before me. Of those, two only are were, all of them, " rulers." Nehem1ah known to us, Zerubbabel and Ezra· but it means to say that he entertained continually is probable that there had been' others. at his table 160 of the Jewish chief men or Were chargeable unto the people. The "rulers" (segd.nim), and also an indefinite words of the original are stronger, and number of foreign Jews, who came on short should be rendered "had oppressed the visits to Jerusalem. people" (i{3cipvva,,, LXX. ), "had been Ver. 18.-0nce in ten days atore of all hea..-y npon them." Re.d taken of them aorta of wine. Literally, "all sorts of wino bread and wine, beside forty shekels. in abundance." Wine was probably drunk Rather, "had taken from them, for bread every day, but laid in every ten days. Yet and wine, above forty shekels." (So Ewald for all this. Or, "with all this "-notwith- and Bertheau.) Forty shekels a day from standing this great expenditure, I took no the whole people would seem to be intended allowance as governor. Beoause the bond- -not forty shekels a year from each per- age was heavy upon thi■ people. The son, as some explain. Even their servants bondage intended must be that under tho bare rule. The oppression exercised by the Persian crown, since neither the labour at domestics and other bangers-on of rulers is the wall nor the oppression of the creditors often worse than their own. This is especi- lasted during the twelve years that Nehe- ally the case in the East, where eunuchs and miah was governor. It would seem tha.t the other domestics have been the most fearful tribute, already complained of in ver. 4, tyrants. Haman under Xerxes, Sejanus under must have been felt as a heavy burthen at Tiberius, K arcissus under Nero, are eXll.Illples. this period. So did not I. I neither exacted money, nor Ver. 19.-Think upon me, my God. Com- allowed my servants to bear rule. :Because pare eh. xiii 14, 22, 31. This is no "prayer of the fear of God. Because I felt that it for posthumous fa.me" (Stanley, 'Lectures would be wrong, either absolutely or under on the Jewish Church,' Third Series, p. the circumstances. 135), but simply an appeal to God, be• Yer. 16.-1 continued in the work of this seeching him to bear in mind the petitioner's wall. Litera.11y, " I repaired," like the good deeds, and reward them at his own others (eh. iii 4----31 ). I employed myself good time and in his own wa.y. As Butler not in buying up men's fields at low prices, observes (' Analogy,' Pa.rt I. eh. iii.), the and so enriching myself, but in the restoring sense of good and ill desert is inseparably and repairing of the wall, over which I exer- connected with an expectation of reward or cised a constant superintendence. All my punishment, and so with the notion of a servants were gathered thither. See eh. future life, since neither are the righteous fr. 16. adequately rewarded nor the wicked ade- Yer. 17.-An hlllldred and fifty of the quately punished in this life.