The rich were taking advantage of the Poor. Previously outsiders like Sanballat and a company of hooligans created problems. Now the problem has come from within (which is always harder to solve). 

Earlier on, the first internal crisis had to do with too much to do but too little people to help.  "The strength of the burden bearers is failing, and there is too much rubbish so that we are unable to work on the wall" (4:10). In other words, there was lack of human resources. Nehemiah solved the problem by adding reinforcement (cf. 4:13). 

The second crisis was more serious and related to family. People and their wives (the poor in the majority) versus their brethren (the rich minority). There was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish kin " (5:1).

For there were those who said, "With our sons and our daughters, we are many; we must get grain, so that we may eat and stay alive."  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."  And there were those who said, "We are having to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay the king's tax.  Now our flesh is the same as that of our kindred; our children are the same as their children; and yet we are forcing our sons and daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters  have been ravished; we are powerless, and our fields and  vineyards now belong to others" (2-5). 

What were the problems? There was a population explosion, the agricultural land was not tended because of the rebuilding of the walls, taxation imposed on the impoverished population and the rich taking advantage of the poor. Who were these rich people? They could have been Jews who had become wealthy during the exile and brought their wealth with them to Jerusalem. Or, the descendants of Jews who   had arrived almost a century earlier during the first return with Zerubbabel (Ezra 1,2) and had established lucrative business.

These rich people lent large sums of money and charged high interests at twelve percent (contrary to the Mosaic law). When the borrowers defaulted in their repayment, their fields were seized. They were forced to mortgage their property and sell their children into slavery.

Nehemiah was angry with the rich for taking advantage of the poor who were their own people.

God is always concerned about the poor. Read in almost all the books of the Bible. Fairness to the poor and oppressed are central in Bible teaching (see Exod 22:22-27; Lev 25:35-37; Deut 14:2, 29; 15:7-11).       

Nehemiah’s Response (6-11)

I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints.  After thinking it over, I brought charges against the nobles and the officials; I said to them, "You are all taking interest from your own people." And I called a great assembly to deal with them". After thinking it over, I brought charges against the nobles and the officials; I said to them, "You are all taking interest from your own people." And I called a great assembly to deal with them,  and said to them, "As far as we were able, we have bought  back our Jewish kindred who had been sold to other nations;  but now you are selling your own kin, who must then be bought  back by us!" They were silent, and could not find a word to say.  So I said, "The thing that you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God, to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?  Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us stop this taking of interest (5: 5-10). 

• First, Nehemiah was angry and rebuked the nobles and officials because what   they were doing was wrong doing to their own people.
• Second, he told them by doing what they were doing they brought disrepute to   God's    name.
• Third, there was no “fear of God" in those people.
• Fourth, he urged them to follow his example by not taking interests.    

Underlying all this is the injunction from the Mosaic laws that prohibits usury. Usury is the practice of charging excessive interest (cf. 22:25).

If any of your kin fall into difficulty and become dependent on you, you shall support them; they shall live with you as though resident aliens.  Do not take interest in advance or otherwise make a profit from them, but fear your God; let them live with you.  You shall not lend them your money at interest taken in advance, or provide them food at a profit.  I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, to be your God.  If any who are dependent on you become so impoverished that they sell themselves to you, you shall not make them serve as slaves.  They shall remain with you as hired or bound laborers. They shall serve with you until the year of the jubilee. Then they and their children with them shall be free from your authority; they shall go back to their own family and return to their ancestral property.  25:42 For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves are sold (Lev 25:35-37; 42). 

Return to the Poor by the Rich

Nehemiah instructed them "You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes to them this very day. And repay the interest you charged when you lent them money, grain, new wine, and olive oil" (11).

Response of the Rich

Then they said, "We will restore everything and demand nothing more from them. We will do as you say" (12a).

Sealing of commitment

And I called the priests, and made them take an oath to do as they had promised (5:12). I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, "So may God shake out everyone from house and from property who does not perform this promise. Thus may they be shaken out and emptied." And all the assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised (5:13).

It was done verbally (oath taking) and non-verbally (shaking of garments). Nehemiah took their words seriously. They all said "Amen!" Whoever says that the word "Amen" belongs exclusively to the charismatic churches?

Nehemiah as a Role Model of Leadership (14-19)

• What he refused to do. He refused to accept any salary during his twelve years as  governor of Judah (14-16)

What he did: He, his brothers and servants are lending the poorer people them money and grain with no interest charged (0). He regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at his own expense.

They responded positively to his leadership. Why? I believe Nehemiah practised four      important leadership principles.

• Doing the right thing and things rightly. Words are cheap. Action was needed.   He did something about it. He dealt with the problem by rebuking the rich for   their usury and failing to observe the Mosaic law He told them to stop doing it   and return to the rightful owners the lands, the fields, vineyard, olive yards and   houses seized in default of payment.
• Leading by example. A leader has no right to ask others to do what he or she is   unwilling to do.  Hence, he was able to exert influence on them because of the   example set by him.  
• Practising courageous leadership. A courageous leader must respond when a   crisis arises and bring the people back to the Word (Lev 25:35-37; 42) and   deliver a rebuke rather than close an eye or sweep everything under the carpet. 
• Fearing God and the glory of God's name were his theological motivation for   doing what he did. Nehemiah told them not to do what they did on these two   bases -  "Fear of God." People need to be reminded of this biblical truth. When   we fear God, we will not dare to take advantages of others nor things to hurt   others.  Secondly, to prevent the taunts of the nation our enemies with regard   to God's image.  As God's people we need to be different from the rest of the   nations. That is one way of honouring God. 

Do we rebuke biblically our members when they come late for service, when they do not use their spiritual gifts to serve or leaders who do not come for corporate prayer meetings or cell group meetings? Could it be that we "fear people" more than we "fear God"? 

Sometimes leaders are accused (rightly so) of N.A.T.O (No Action, Talk only). It is easy to talk about problems but to do something about is easier said than done. In this case, Nehemiah showed them their wrong action and did something about the situation by setting an example. What a leader!   

Opposition from Outside Again (6:1-19)

Just when Nehemiah solved the internal problems and thought that the external no longer posed a threat, he was in for another surprise. His enemies refused to give up their quest to stop- the rebuilding project.  Now they hatched a more sinister and subtle plot.