{"id":1888,"verse_id":"NEH.5.5","translation_id":"net-engnet","book_id":"NEH","chapter":5,"verse":5,"note_index":1,"note_type":"study_note","label":"NET study note","caller":"5","reference":"5.5","text":"The poor among the returned exiles were being exploited by their rich countrymen. Moneylenders were loaning large amounts of money, and not only collecting interest on loans which was illegal ( Lev 25:36-37 ; Deut 23:19-20 ), but also seizing pledges as collateral ( Neh 5:3 ) which was allowed ( Deut 24:10 ). When the debtors missed a payment, the moneylenders would seize their collateral: their fields, vineyards and homes. With no other means of income, the debtors were forced to sell their children into slavery, a common practice at this time ( Neh 5:5 ). Nehemiah himself was one of the moneylenders ( Neh 5:10 ), but he insisted that seizure of collateral from fellow Jewish countrymen was ethically wrong ( Neh 5:9 ).","source_note_position":5,"source_url":"https://netbible.org/resource/netNote/Nehemiah%205%3A5/5"}
