Today I read Nehemiah 5, in which there was a great protest from the people because of the manmade poverty and famine they were facing. Today I considered that local taxes should not be so high that they harm people’s ability to live.
Complaint Heard and Addressed
Nehemiah heard the complaints of the people and addressed it with the leaders (Nehemiah 5:1-19). The people complained because they did not have food to feed their children, their lands were mortgaged, some lost their lands, and some had sold their children because of the taxes and interest being charged to them. They had to pay royal taxes, local Jewish leaders and priests were requiring other taxes, and people were charging interest on loans to the point of taking their land. Nehemiah called a meeting to tell the leaders their behavior was wrong. Their people had already been brought out of slavery and they were not to enslave them again. He told them to give everyone their land and property back. They agreed to do so. Nehemiah also explained that during his 12 years as governor he could have taken what the king appointed to him but did not because he knew the people were already having a hard time.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
Everyone complains about taxes. This complaint has been around for centuries. Whoever rules usually requires some form of taxes or payment from the people. Even if the largest government organization requires taxes, the Bible seems to be saying the local authorities, leaders, and priests should not make the burden worse such that people can’t afford to live.
What do you think we can learn about government from Nehemiah 5?