Nehemiah Discovers the Nobles Are Enslaving Their Fellow Jews and Confronts Them Publicly

While the wall is being built, Nehemiah hears an outcry: Jewish men and women are being sold into slavery — by other Jews. The nobles and officials have been lending money to their own people for tax payments, taking their children as collateral, and forcing them to forfeit their fields and vineyards when they cannot repay. Nehemiah is furious. He calls a great public assembly. In front of everyone he rebukes the nobles: 'What you are doing is not right. Should you not walk in the fear of God?' Shamed before the crowd, the nobles and officials agree to return everything and swear an oath before the priests. Nehemiah shakes out the fold of his garment: 'So may God shake out every man from his house who does not keep this promise.'