Nehemiah 5
Commentary from 1 father
And some said, We [are] numerous with our sons and our daughters; so we will take corn, and eat, and live.
καὶ ἦσάν τινες λέγοντες· ἐν υἱοῖς ἡμῶν καὶ ἐν θυγατράσιν ἡμῶν ἡμεῖς πολλοί· καὶ ληψόμεθα σῖτον καὶ φαγόμεθα καὶ ζησόμεθα.
И҆ бы́ша нѣ́цыи глаго́люще: сы́нове на́ши и҆ дщє́ри на́шѧ мно́зи сꙋ́ть на́мъ, и҆ да во́змемъ (за цѣ́нꙋ) пшени́цꙋ и҆ ꙗ҆ди́мъ и҆ жи́ви бꙋ́демъ.
And some said, [As to] our fields and vineyards and houses, let us pledge [them], and we will take corn, and eat.
καὶ εἰσί τινες λέγοντες· ἀγροὶ ἡμῶν καὶ ἀμπελῶνες ἡμῶν καὶ οἰκίαι ἡμῶν, ἡμεῖς διεγγυῶμεν, καὶ ληψόμεθα σῖτον καὶ φαγόμεθα.
И҆ бы́ша нѣ́цыи глаго́люще: се́ла на̑ша и҆ вїногра́ды на́шѧ и҆ до́мы на́шѧ мы̀ да дади́мъ въ зало́гъ, и҆ во́змемъ пшени́цꙋ, и҆ ꙗ҆́сти бꙋ́демъ.
And some said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tributes:-- our fields, and our vineyards, and houses [are pledged].
καὶ εἰσί τινες λέγοντες· ἐδανεισάμεθα ἀργύριον εἰς φόρους τοῦ βασιλέως, ἀγροὶ ἡμῶν καὶ ἀμπελῶνες ἡμῶν καὶ οἰκίαι ἡμῶν·
И҆ бы́ша нѣ́цыи глаго́люще: взаи́мъ взѧ́хомъ сребро̀ на да̑ни царє́вы, дади́мъ се́ла на̑ша и҆ вїногра́ды на́шѧ и҆ до́мы на́шѧ:
And now our flesh [is] as the flesh of our brethren, our children [are] as their children: yet, behold, we are reducing our sons and our daughters to slavery, and some of our daughters are enslaved: and there is no power of our hands, for our fields and our vineyards [belong] to the nobles.
καὶ νῦν ὡς σὰρξ ἀδελφῶν ἡμῶν σὰρξ ἡμῶν, ὡς υἱοὶ αὐτῶν υἱοὶ ἡμῶν. καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡμεῖς καταδυναστεύομεν τοὺς υἱοὺς ἡμῶν καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας ἡμῶν εἰς δούλους, καί εἰσιν ἀπὸ θυγατέρων ἡμῶν καταδυναστευόμεναι, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι δύναμις χειρῶν ἡμῶν, καὶ ἀγροὶ ἡμῶν καὶ ἀμπελῶνες ἡμῶν τοῖς ἐντίμοις.
и҆ нн҃ѣ ꙗ҆́коже пло́ть бра́тїй на́шихъ, пло́ть на́ша, ꙗ҆́коже сы́нове и҆́хъ, сы́нове на́ши: и҆ сѐ, мы̀ порабоща́емъ сы́ны на́шѧ и҆ дщє́ри на́шѧ въ рабы̑, и҆ сꙋ́ть ѿ дще́рей на́шихъ порабощє́ны, и҆ нѣ́сть си́лы въ рꙋка́хъ на́шихъ (ѿкꙋпи́ти) и҆ се́ла на̑ша и҆ вїногра́ды на́шѧ ᲂу҆ вельмо́жъ.
And I was much grieved as I heard their cry and these words.
καὶ ἐλυπήθην σφόδρα, καθὼς ἤκουσα τὴν κραυγὴν αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς λόγους τούτους.
И҆ ѡ҆скорбѣ́хъ ѕѣлѡ̀, є҆гда̀ ᲂу҆слы́шахъ во́пль и҆́хъ и҆ словеса̀ сїѧ̑.
And my heart took counsel within me, and I contended against the nobles, and the princes, and I said to them, Should every man demand of his brother what ye demand? And I appointed against them a great assembly,
καὶ ἐβουλεύσατο καρδία μου ἐπ’ ἐμέ, καὶ ἐμαχεσάμην πρὸς τοὺς ἐντίμους καὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας καὶ εἶπα αὐτοῖς· ἀπαιτήσει ἀνὴρ τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, ἃ ὑμεῖς ἀπαιτεῖτε. καὶ ἔδωκα ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς ἐκκλησίαν μεγάλην
И҆ ᲂу҆совѣ́това се́рдце моѐ во мнѣ̀, и҆ воспрети́хъ держа̑внымъ и҆ нача̑льнымъ и҆ реко́хъ и҆̀мъ: ли́хвы ли кі́йждо ѿ бра́та своегѡ̀ и҆стѧ́жетъ, ю҆́же вы̀ и҆стѧзꙋ́ете; и҆ собра́хъ проти́вꙋ и҆̀мъ собра́нїе вели́ко
And he rebuked the nobles and magistrates, etc. As the best leader of the heavenly army, and a wise architect of the city of God, what he wanted the nobles and magistrates of the people to do, he first declared that he himself had done; namely, giving alms to the poor, and seeking nothing from them except the observance of the law of God and the edification of his city. In this reading, it is not appropriate for us to seek the sense through allegory, but rather to diligently observe the very text of the letter; that is to say, apart from the daily fruits of alms, we should be concerned, when a general time of famine and poverty afflicts the people, to lend to the needy whatever we can, and also to remit the tributes which we used to demand from our subjects as if justly, to the extent that our Father may also forgive us our debts. A very terrible conclusion is imposed on this reading, when it is said:
Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah
and I said to them, We of our free-will have redeemed our brethren the Jews that were sold to the Gentiles; and do ye sell your brethren? and shall they be delivered to us? And they were silent, and found no answer.
καὶ εἶπα αὐτοῖς· ἡμεῖς κεκτήμεθα τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ἡμῶν τοὺς ᾿Ιουδαίους τοὺς πωλουμένους τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἐν ἑκουσίῳ ἡμῶν· καὶ ὑμεῖς πωλεῖτε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν καὶ παραδοθήσονται ἡμῖν; καὶ ἡσύχασαν καὶ οὐχ εὕροσαν λόγον.
и҆ реко́хъ и҆̀мъ: мы̀ и҆скꙋпи́хомъ бра́тїю на́шꙋ і҆ꙋдеѡ́въ, про́даныхъ ꙗ҆зы́кѡмъ, по си́лѣ на́шей: вы́ же прода́сте бра́тїю ва́шꙋ, и҆ ѿдадꙋ́тсѧ на́мъ; И҆ ᲂу҆молча́ша, и҆ не ѡ҆брѣто́ша что̀ ѿвѣща́ти.
And I said, The thing which ye do [is] not good; ye will not so walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the Gentiles our enemies.
καὶ εἶπα· οὐκ ἀγαθὸς ὁ λόγος, ὃν ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε· οὐχ οὕτως ἐν φόβῳ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἀπελεύσεσθε ἀπὸ ὀνειδισμοῦ τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν ἐχθρῶν ἡμῶν.
И҆ реко́хъ: не добро̀ дѣ́ло, є҆́же вы̀ творитѐ: та́кѡ не во стра́сѣ бг҃а на́шегѡ (ходѧ́ще) ᲂу҆бѣжите́ ли ѿ поноше́нїѧ ꙗ҆зы́кѡвъ врагѡ́въ на́шихъ;
Both my brethren, and my acquaintances, and I, have lent them money and corn: let us now leave off this exaction.
καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί μου καὶ οἱ γνωστοί μου καὶ ἐγὼ ἐθήκαμεν ἑαυτοῖς ἀργύριον καὶ σῖτον· ἐγκατελίπομεν δὴ τὴν ἀπαίτησιν ταύτην.
и҆ а҆́зъ и҆ бра́тїѧ моѧ̑ и҆ зна́емїи моѝ взаи́мъ да́хомъ и҆̀мъ пѣ̑нѧзи и҆ пшени́цꙋ: ѡ҆ста́вимъ ᲂу҆̀бо лихои́мство сїѐ:
Restore to them, I pray, as at this day, their fields, and their vineyards, and their olive-yards, and their houses, and bring forth to them corn and wine and oil of the money.
ἐπιστρέψατε δὴ αὐτοῖς ὡς σήμερον ἀγροὺς αὐτῶν καὶ ἀμπελῶνας αὐτῶν καὶ ἐλαιῶνας αὐτῶν καὶ οἰκίας αὐτῶν· καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀργυρίου τὸν σῖτον καὶ τὸν οἶνον καὶ τὸ ἔλαιον ἐξενέγκατε αὐτοῖς.
возврати́те же и҆̀мъ дне́сь се́ла и҆́хъ и҆ вїногра́ды и҆́хъ и҆ ма̑слины и҆́хъ и҆ до́мы и҆́хъ, и҆ ѿ сребра̀ пшени́цꙋ и҆ вїно̀ и҆ є҆ле́й ѿдади́те и҆̀мъ.
And they said, We will restore, and we will not exact of them; we will do thus as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and bound them by oath to do according to this word.
καὶ εἶπαν· ἀποδώσομεν, καὶ παρ’ αὐτῶν οὐ ζητήσομεν, οὕτως ποιήσομεν καθὼς σὺ λέγεις· καὶ ἐκάλεσα τοὺς ἱερεῖς καὶ ὥρκισα αὐτοὺς ποιῆσαι ὡς τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο.
И҆ реко́ша: ѿдади́мъ и҆ ѿ ни́хъ не взы́щемъ, та́кѡ сотвори́мъ, ꙗ҆́коже ты̀ глаго́леши. И҆ призва́хъ свѧще́нникѡвъ и҆ заклѧ́хъ и҆̀хъ сотвори́ти по словесѝ семꙋ̀.
And I shook out my garment, and said, So may God shake out every man who shall not keep to this word, from his house, and from his labours, he shall be even thus shaken out, as an outcast and empty. And all the congregation said, Amen, and they praised the Lord: and the people did this thing.
καὶ τὴν ἀναβολήν μου ἐξετίναξα καὶ εἶπα· οὕτως ἐκτινάξαι ὁ Θεὸς πάντα ἄνδρα, ὃς οὐ στήσει τὸν λόγον τοῦτον, ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκ κόπου αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσται οὕτως ἐκτετιναγμένος καὶ κενός. καὶ εἶπε πᾶσα ἡ ἐκκλησία· ἀμήν, καὶ ἤνεσαν τὸν Κύριον. καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ λαὸς τὸ ρῆμα τοῦτο.
И҆ ѡ҆трѧсо́хъ ѻ҆де́ждꙋ мою̀ и҆ реко́хъ: та́кѡ да и҆стрѧсе́тъ бг҃ъ всѧ́каго мꙋ́жа, и҆́же не и҆спо́лнитъ сло́ва сегѡ̀, ѿ до́мꙋ є҆гѡ̀ и҆ ѿ трꙋдѡ́въ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ да бꙋ́детъ та́кѡ ѿтрѧсе́нъ и҆ то́щь. И҆ речѐ всѐ мно́жество: а҆ми́нь. И҆ восхвали́ша бг҃а. И҆ сотвори́ша лю́дїе по глаго́лꙋ семꙋ̀.
Moreover, I shook out the fold of my garment, and said, etc. For whoever either refuses to give mercy to the poor, or does not blush to demand back what they do not have, as if justly, this person is shaken out of his house, namely, from the assembly of the holy Church, in which he believed he would remain forever, thrown out. He is also shaken out of his labors, that is, deprived of the fruit of the good works in which he thought he had laudably labored. For labors without pity cannot become fruitful before the Lord. How greatly this rebuke or imprecation of Nehemiah moved the hearts of all is clearly declared, when it is immediately added:
Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah
And all the multitude said, Amen, etc. For when, having heard his testimony, all responded Amen, and praising God, they did what was commanded; it is evident, indeed, that they received his words not compelled by fear, but with the deep affection of their heart.
Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah
From the day that he charged me to be their ruler in the land of Juda, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Arthasastha, twelve years, I and my brethren ate not [provision] extorted from them.
᾿Απὸ τῆς ἡμέρας, ἧς ἐνετείλατό μοι εἶναι εἰς ἄρχοντα αὐτῶν ἐν γῇ ᾿Ιούδα, ἀπὸ ἔτους εἰκοστοῦ καὶ ἕως ἔτους τριακοστοῦ καὶ δευτέρου τῷ ᾿Αρθασασθὰ ἔτη δώδεκα, ἐγὼ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοί μου βίαν αὐτῶν οὐκ ἔφαγον.
Ѿ днѐ тогѡ̀, во́ньже повелѣ̀ (ца́рь) мнѣ̀ бы́ти вожде́мъ и҆́хъ въ землѝ і҆ꙋ́динѣ, ѿ лѣ́та двадесѧ́тагѡ и҆ да́же до лѣ́та три́десѧть втора́гѡ а҆ртаѯе́рѯа царѧ̀, лѣ́тъ двана́десѧть, а҆́зъ и҆ бра́тїѧ моѧ̑ ѡ҆бро́кꙋ и҆́хъ не ꙗ҆до́хомъ.
From the day on which he commanded me to be their leader, etc. Explaining this typologically, the Apostle says: “For the Lord has ordained that those who preach the Gospel should live by the Gospel; but I have used none of these things” (I Cor. IX). Nehemiah, along with his brothers, lived in such a way for twelve years during his leadership that they did not consume the provisions owed to the leaders, thereby mystically indicating that it is an apostolic work when someone promoted to the governance of the people of God nobly exercises the work of leadership by building up the Church, but does not seek material gain from those he governs by preaching and living well.
Commentary on Ezra and Nehemiah
But as for the former acts of extortion wherein [those who were] before me oppressed them, they even took of them their last money, forty didrachms for bread and wine; and the [very] outcasts of them exercised authority over the people: but I did not so, because of the fear of God.
καὶ τὰς βίας τὰς πρώτας, ἃς πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἐβάρυναν ἐπ’ αὐτούς, καὶ ἐλάβοσαν παρ’ αὐτῶν ἐν ἄρτοις καὶ ἐν οἴνῳ ἔσχατον ἀργύριον, δίδραχμα τεσσαράκοντα, καὶ οἱ ἐκτετιναγμένοι αὐτῶν ἐξουσιάζονται ἐπὶ τὸν λαόν· κἀγὼ οὐκ ἐποίησα οὕτως ἀπὸ προσώπου φόβου Θεοῦ.
И҆ ѡ҆бро́кѡвъ пе́рвыхъ, и҆́миже пре́жде менє̀ ѡ҆тѧгчи́ша и҆̀хъ, и҆ прїѧ́ша ѿ ни́хъ въ хлѣ́бѣ и҆ въ вїнѣ̀, по си́хъ сребра̀ (на всѧ́къ де́нь) дїдра́хмъ четы́редесѧть: и҆ слꙋжє́бницы и҆́хъ ѡ҆блада́ша людьмѝ. А҆́зъ же не сотвори́хъ та́кѡ ра́ди стра́ха бж҃їѧ.
Also in the work of the wall I treated them not with rigor, I bought not land: and all that were gathered together [came] thither to the work.
καὶ ἐν ἔργῳ τοῦ τείχους τούτων οὐκ ἐκράτησα, ἀγρὸν οὐκ ἐκτησάμην, καὶ πάντες οἱ συνηγμένοι ἐκεῖ ἐπὶ τὸ ἔργον.
И҆ въ дѣ́лѣ стѣ́ны сїѧ̑ созида́хъ: и҆ села̀ не стѧжа́хъ, и҆ всѝ ѻ҆́троцы моѝ со́брани бѧ́хꙋ та́мѡ на дѣ́ло.
And the Jews, to [the number of] a hundred and fifty men, besides those coming to us from the nations round about, [were] at my table.
καὶ οἱ ᾿Ιουδαῖοι, ἑκατὸν καὶ πεντήκοντα ἄνδρες, καὶ ἐρχόμενοι πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν κύκλῳ ἡμῶν ἐπὶ τράπεζάν μου.
І҆ꙋдє́й же и҆ нача́льникѡвъ сто̀ пѧтьдесѧ́тъ мꙋже́й, и҆ приходѧ́щїи къ на́мъ ѿ ꙗ҆зы̑къ, и҆̀же ѡ҆́крестъ на́съ, при трапе́зѣ мое́й.
And there came [to me] for one day one calf, and I had six choice sheep and a goat; and every ten days wine in abundance of all sorts: yet with these I required not the bread of extortion, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
καὶ ἦν γινόμενον εἰς ἡμέραν μίαν μόσχος εἷς καὶ πρόβατα ἓξ ἐκλεκτὰ καὶ χίμαρος ἐγίνοντό μοι καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον δέκα ἡμερῶν ἐν πᾶσιν οἶνος τῷ πλήθει· καὶ σὺν τούτοις ἄρτους τῆς βίας οὐκ ἐζήτησα, ὅτι βαρεῖα ἡ δουλεία ἐπὶ τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον.
И҆ бѣ̀ ᲂу҆гото́вано мнѣ̀ на всѧ́къ де́нь: теле́цъ є҆ди́нъ и҆ ѻ҆ве́цъ ше́сть и҆збра́нныхъ и҆ козе́лъ бы́ша мнѣ̀ (и҆ пти̑цы), и҆ междꙋ̀ десѧтѝ дні́й всѣ̑мъ вїна̀ мно́гѡ: и҆ съ си́ми хлѣ́ба госпо́дствꙋ моемꙋ̀ не взыска́хъ, занѐ тѧжка̀ рабо́та на лю́дехъ си́хъ.
Remember me, O God, for good, [in] all that I have done to this people.
μνήσθητί μου, ὁ Θεός, εἰς ἀγαθὸν πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησα τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ.
Помѧни́ мѧ, бж҃е мо́й, во бла́го по всѣ̑мъ, є҆ли̑ка сотвори́хъ лю́демъ си̑мъ.
And the cry of the people and their wives [was] great against their brethren the Jews.
ΚΑΙ ἡ κραυγὴ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ γυναικῶν αὐτῶν μεγάλη πρὸς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτῶν τοὺς ᾿Ιουδαίους.
И҆ бы́сть во́пль люді́й и҆ же́нъ и҆́хъ вели́къ на бра́тїю свою̀ і҆ꙋдє́и.