Nehemiah Refuses the Governor’s Allotment

¹⁴ In addition, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah (that is, during the twelve years from the twentieth to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes), neither I nor my relatives relied on the provisions^[a] allotted to the governor. ¹⁵ Nevertheless, the former governors before me placed a heavy burden on the people. They received food and wine, plus a tax of^[b] 40 shekels^[c] of silver. Even their young men took advantage of the people, but I never did so because I feared God.

¹⁶ Also, as I continued to work on the wall, we purchased no land, and all of my young men were employed in the work. ¹⁷ I fed 150 Jews and officials every day, not counting those who came from the nations around us. ¹⁸ Our daily requirements were one ox and six choice sheep, along with various kinds of poultry prepared for me. Every ten days there was a delivery of an abundant supply of wine. Despite all this, I refused the governor’s allotment,^[d] because demands on the people were heavy.

¹⁹ “Remember me with favor, my God, for everything I’ve done for this people.”