Nehemiah 5:4

The Message

And others said, “We’re having to borrow money to pay the royal tax on our fields and vineyards. Look: We’re the same flesh and blood as our brothers here; our children are just as good as theirs. Yet here we are having to sell our children off as slaves—some of our daughters have already been sold—and we can’t do anything about it because our fields and vineyards are owned by somebody else.”

Cross References

Ezra 7:24

Also, let it be clear that no one is permitted to impose tribute, tax, or duty on any priest, Levite, singer, temple security guard, temple servant, or any other worker connected with The Temple of God.

Nehemiah 5:3

Others said, “We’re having to mortgage our fields and vineyards and homes to get enough grain to keep from starving.”

Proverbs 22:7

The poor are always ruled over by the rich, so don’t borrow and put yourself under their power.

Joshua 16:10

But they didn’t get rid of the Canaanites who were living in Gezer. Canaanites are still living among the people of Ephraim, but they are made to do forced labor. * * *