Nehemiah 5:14-19
Legacy Standard Bible
Nehemiah as Governor
14 Moreover, from the day that I was put in command to be their governor in the land of Judah, from (A)the twentieth year to the (B)thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my [a]relatives have eaten the governor’s food allowance. 15 But the former governors who were before me [b]laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty [c]shekels of silver; even their young men exerted their power over the people. But I did not do so (C)because of the fear of God. 16 I also took hold of the work on this wall; we did not buy any land, and all my young men were gathered there for the work. 17 Moreover, (D)there were at my table 150 Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. 18 Now (E)that which was prepared for each day was one ox and six choice sheep, also birds were prepared for me; and once in ten days all sorts of wine were furnished in abundance. Yet for all this (F)I did not require the governor’s food allowance, because the slavery was heavy on this people. 19 (G)Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
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- Nehemiah 5:14 Lit brothers
- Nehemiah 5:15 Lit made heavy
- Nehemiah 5:15 A shekel was approx. 0.4 oz. or 11 gm
Nehemiah 5:14-19
New English Translation
14 From the day that I was appointed[a] governor[b] in the land of Judah, that is, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes—twelve years in all—neither I nor my relatives[c] ate the food allotted to the governor.[d] 15 But the former governors who preceded me had burdened the people and had taken food and wine from them, in addition to[e] forty shekels of silver. Their associates were also domineering over the people. But I did not behave in this way, due to my fear of God. 16 I gave myself to the work on this wall, without even purchasing[f] a field. All my associates were gathered there for the work.
17 There were 150 Jews and officials who dined with me routinely,[g] in addition to those who came to us from the nations[h] all around us. 18 Every day one ox, six select sheep, and some birds were prepared for me, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Despite all this I did not require the food allotted to the governor, for the work was demanding on this people.
19 Please remember me for good, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.
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- Nehemiah 5:14 tc The BHS editors suggest reading צֻוֵּאתִי (tsuvveʾti, “and I was appointed”) rather than the reading of the MT, אֹתִי צִוָּה (tsivvah ʾoti, “he appointed me”).
- Nehemiah 5:14 tc The translation reads with one medieval Hebrew ms פֶּחָה (pekhah, “governor”) rather than פֶּחָם (pekham, “their governor”) of the MT. One would expect the form with pronominal suffix to have a tav (ת) before the suffix.
- Nehemiah 5:14 tn Heb “brothers.”
- Nehemiah 5:14 tn Heb “the food of the governor.” Cf. v. 18.
- Nehemiah 5:15 tc The Hebrew term אַחַר (ʾakhar) is difficult here. It normally means “after,” but that makes no sense here. Some scholars emend it to אַחַד (ʾakhad) and supply the word “day,” which yields the sense “daily.” Cf. TEV “40 silver coins a day for food and wine.”
- Nehemiah 5:16 tn Heb “we did not purchase.”
- Nehemiah 5:17 tn Heb “officials at my table.”
- Nehemiah 5:17 tn Or “from the Gentiles.” The same Hebrew word can refer to “the Gentiles” or “the nations.” Cf. the phrase in 6:16.
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