Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.
Every day, one ox and six choice sheep were prepared for me, along with birds for cooking. Every ten days, I received plenty of wine of all kinds. But despite all this, I didn't demand the food allowance that governors were entitled to, because the people were already carrying a heavy burden.
Nehemiah chose not to take the food allowance he was entitled to as governor because he didn't want to add to the people's financial struggles.
📚 Historical Context
During the time of Nehemiah, who was appointed governor of Judah by the Persian king Artaxerxes in the 5th century BC, the Jewish people were facing severe economic hardships due to debts, high interest rates, and internal oppression that exacerbated their poverty. Nehemiah, as a leader returning from exile, worked to rebuild Jerusalem's walls while addressing social injustices, including refusing to claim the full governor's allowances to avoid adding to the people's burdens. In this verse, he specifically highlights his daily provisions and his choice not to demand extra resources, demonstrating his integrity amid widespread suffering.
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