Nehemiah 5:1-13
1 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews.
2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.”
3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine.”
4 Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.
5 Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”
귀환한 유대인들 중 일부는 부유했지만, 대부분의 사람들은 경제적으로 매우 어려운 상황에 처해 있었습니다. 기근과 세금 부담으로 인해 많은 사람들이 빚을 지고, 심지어는 자녀들을 노예로 팔아야 하는 상황까지 발생했습니다. 이러한 경제적 불평등은 사회 내 갈등을 일으켰고, 느헤미야가 개입하게 되었습니다.
While some of the returned Jews were wealthy, the majority found themselves in very difficult economic circumstances. Due to famine and heavy tax burdens, many fell into debt, and some even had to sell their children into slavery. This economic inequality caused significant social conflict, prompting Nehemiah to intervene.
6 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry.
7 I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them
8 and said: “As far as possible, we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your own people, only for them to be sold back to us!” They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.
9 So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?
10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest!
11 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.”
느헤미야는 백성들이 동족에게 고리대금을 통해 착취당하고 있다는 소식을 듣고 크게 분노합니다. 그는 고위 관리들과 귀족들을 꾸짖으며, 동족끼리 고리대금을 받는 것은 잘못되었음을 지적합니다. 느헤미야는 그들에게 빚을 탕감하고 땅, 포도원, 올리브밭, 집 등 빼앗은 모든 재산을 즉시 돌려주고 이자도 반환할 것을 요구합니다
Nehemiah heard that the people were being exploited by their own brethren through usury, and he became very angry. He rebuked the nobles and officials, pointing out that it was wrong for them to charge interest to their fellow Jews. Nehemiah urged them to forgive the debts and immediately return all seized properties, including land, vineyards, olive groves, and houses, as well as to repay the interest they had taken.
12 “We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.”
Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised.
13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!”
At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.
느헤미야의 당부를 들은 이스라엘 사람들은 그대로 할 것을 약속하고 하나님께 찬양합니다. 예루살렘으로 돌아오기 전 기도로 준비한 느헤미야의 영적인 힘을 느낄 수 있습니다. 보통 관계성이 별로 없는 사람이 나에게 조언을 할 때는 기분이 언짢거나 듣기 싫어하기 마련입니다. 그러나 영적으로 깨어있던 느헤미야는 물질이 사람보다 우선하고 있는 상황이 잘못된 것임을 깨달았고, 용감하게 사람들에게 조언을 합니다. 우리가 누군가에게 조언을 해야 한다면 느헤미야와 같은 준비를 해야 할 것입니다.
The Israelites, after hearing Nehemiah's admonition, promised to do as he said and praised God. This demonstrates the spiritual strength Nehemiah gained through prayer before returning to Jerusalem. Typically, when someone who doesn't have a close relationship with us gives advice, we may feel uncomfortable or resistant. However, Nehemiah, who was spiritually alert, realized that prioritizing material wealth over people was wrong, and he courageously gave his advice to the people. If we are ever in a position to give advice, we should prepare ourselves spiritually, just as Nehemiah did.
그렇게 고통받고 있다가 빚을 탕감받으면 얼마나 마음이 가볍고 기쁠지 상상해 봅니다. 하물며 예수그리스도는 죽을 수 밖에 없는 나의 죄의 문제를 해결해 주시기 위해서 목숨으로 값을 치루셨습니다. 내가 받은 은혜를 생각한다면 다른 이들에게 자비를 베푸는 삶이 하나님이 나에게 원하시는 삶임을 깨달을 수 있습니다.
I can only imagine how lighthearted and joyful someone would feel after being freed from the burden of debt. Even more, Jesus Christ paid the price with His own life to resolve the issue of my sin, which would have led to death. When I reflect on the grace I have received, I realize that living a life of mercy toward others is the life God desires for me.
