Neemias 5

Good and Bad Governors

14 Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes  * 5:14 Ezr 4:7; 7:1 appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah — from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, twelve years  * 5:14 Neh 13:6  — I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor. 15 The governors  * 5:15 Ezr 5:3,14; Hg 1:1 who preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them food and wine as well as a pound  * 5:15 Lit 40 shekels of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but because of the fear of God, I didn’t do this.  * 5:15 Lv 25:3616 Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of this wall,  * 5:16 Neh 4:1; 6:1; 2Th 3:7–10 and all my subordinates were gathered there for the work. We didn’t buy any land.  * 5:16 Neh 5:3,7,11

17 There were 150 Jews and officials, as well as guests from the surrounding nations at my table.  * 5:17 1Kg 4:27; 18:1918 Each  * 5:18 Lit And that which was prepared each day, one ox, six choice sheep, and some fowl were prepared for me. An abundance of all kinds of wine was provided every ten days.  * 5:18 1Kg 4:22–23 But I didn’t demand the food allotted to the governor, because the burden on the people was so heavy.

19 Remember me favorably, my God, for all that I have done for this people.  * 5:19 Neh 13:14,22,31