And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.
The land produces abundant crops for the foreign kings you have placed over us because of our sins. These kings have complete control over our bodies and our livestock, doing whatever they want with us, and we are in terrible distress.
The writer is explaining how their disobedience to God resulted in foreign rulers controlling them and their resources, causing them great suffering.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of a prayer during Nehemiah's time when the Jewish people had returned from Babylonian exile but were still under Persian rule. The Israelites were reflecting on how their ancestors' sins led to conquest by foreign powers, and even though they had returned to their land, they were still subject to Persian kings who taxed their crops heavily and controlled their lives.
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