Nehemiah 5:14-16

Expanded Bible

¹⁴ I was appointed governor in the land of Judah in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ rule [^C445 bc]. I was governor of Judah for twelve years, until his thirty-second year. During that time neither my ·brothers [colleagues; relatives; or officials] nor I ate the food that was allowed for a governor [^CNehemiah is demonstrating his own selflessness during this time]. ¹⁵ But the governors before me [^Cin contrast] had placed a heavy ·load [burden] on the people. They took ·about one pound [^Lforty shekels] of silver from each person, along with food and wine. ·The governors’ helpers before me [Their associates/assistants] also ·controlled [oppressed; dominated] the people, but I did not do that, because I feared God [Prov. 1:7]. ¹⁶ I ·worked [devoted myself to working] on the wall, as did all my ·men [servants] who were ·gathered [assembled] there. We did not buy any ·fields [land].