Some were saying, "We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live."
Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine."
Still others were saying, "We have borrowed money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards.
I became extremely angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints.
and said, "We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back." They remained silent and could not say a word.
Then I said, "What you are doing isn't right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God [and not invite] the reproach of our foreign enemies?
Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil that you have been assessing them."
They responded: "We will return [these things] and require nothing more from them. We will do as you say." So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath to do this.
I also shook the folds of my robe and said, "May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn't keep this promise. May he be shaken out and have nothing!" The whole assembly said, " Amen," and they praised the LORD. Then the people did as they had promised.
Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah-- from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, 12 years-- I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor.
Instead, I devoted myself to the construction of the wall, and all my subordinates were gathered there for the work. We didn't buy any land.
There were 150 Jews and officials, as well as guests from the surrounding nations at my table.