their descendants who were still left in the land, whom the Israelites were unable to destroy completely—these Solomon conscripted for slave labor, and so they are to this day.
Nehemiah 5:4 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 2021 And there were those who said, “We are having to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay the king’s tax. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Others said, We have borrowed money on our fields and vineyards to pay the [Persian] king's heavy tax. American Standard Version (1901) There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute upon our fields and our vineyards. Common English Bible Still others said, “We have had to borrow money against our fields and vineyards in order to pay the king’s tax.” Catholic Public Domain Version And others were saying: "Let us borrow money for the tribute of the king, and let us surrender our fields and vineyards." Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And others said: Let us borrow money for the king's tribute; and let us give up our fields and vineyards. |
their descendants who were still left in the land, whom the Israelites were unable to destroy completely—these Solomon conscripted for slave labor, and so they are to this day.
Now may it be known to the king that, if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be reduced.
Jerusalem has had mighty kings who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid.
We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on any of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.
There were also those who said, “We are having to pledge our fields, our vineyards, and our houses in order to get grain during the famine.”
Its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins; they have power also over our bodies and over our livestock at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.”
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
They did not, however, drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived within Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor.