"But the former governors that {had been} before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine…" — Nehemiah 5:15

Nehemiah 5:15 · KJV

“But the former governors that {had been} before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.”

— Nehemiah 5:15

Verse 14

Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, {that is}, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

Verse 16

Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants {were} gathered thither unto the work.

Nehemiah 5 — Context

Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise. {emptied: Heb. empty, or, void}

But the former governors that {had been} before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants {were} gathered thither unto the work.

Moreover {there were} at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that {are} about us.

Cross References

Nehemiah 5:9

Also I said, It {is} not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

Proverbs 16:6

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD {men} depart from evil.

Isaiah 50:10

Who {is} among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh {in} darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

Matthew 5:47

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more {than others}? do not even the publicans so?

Job 31:23

For destruction {from} God {was} a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this {is} the whole {duty} of man. {Let...: or, The end of the matter, even all that hath been heard, is}

2 Corinthians 11:9

And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all {things} I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and {so} will I keep {myself}.

1 Samuel 8:15

And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. {officers: Heb. eunuchs}