I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
I myself, along with my brothers and my servants, could also charge interest and demand money and grain from them. But please, let's stop charging this interest.
Nehemiah is asking his fellow leaders to stop charging unfair interest to poor fellow Jews, even though he admits he could do the same thing.
📚 Historical Context
During the time of Nehemiah, the Jewish people were rebuilding Jerusalem after their exile in Babylon, facing severe economic hardships where the wealthy were exploiting the poor through high-interest loans. This practice of usury violated Old Testament laws designed to protect the vulnerable, and Nehemiah, as a godly leader, was addressing this injustice to foster unity and obedience to God's commands among the returning exiles.
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