Moreover, from the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor’s food allowance. (Nehemiah 5:14)
It was no surprise that Nehemiah was appointed governor of Judah by King Artaxerxes. Up to that time, the region was part of the Samarian province to the west under the control of Nehemiah’s nemesis Sanballat. This move undoubtedly added insult to Sanballat’s injury with the wall going up so rapidly. Nehemiah occupied this position for twelve years, which under the circumstances, was a long term in office. This was indicative of his fierce loyalty to the king, despite his overriding fear of God.
But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants domineered the people. But I did not do so because of the fear of God. (Nehemiah 5:15)
After the assembly that led to exposing the extortion of the nobles and rulers, and the restoration of the people’s control over their daily lives, we are told that Nehemiah and his kinsman led the way in displaying generosity. Throughout his term of his office as governor, he refused to use the “king’s allowance” for food, but used his own resources, even for banquets given for foreign dignitaries. It also appears that during the building of the wall, Nehemiah and his men kept their nose to the grindstone on their own section of the wall, while the nobles and rulers and even youths (“servants”) were shaking down the Jewish people.
To turn over a new leaf, Nehemiah strived to add no further burdens to his subjects, “because the servitude was heavy on this people.” (Nehemiah 5:18)
I also applied myself to the work on this wall; we did not buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. Moreover, there were at my table one hundred and fifty Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. (Nehemiah 5:16-17)
Because of his laser focus on serving the people and their God, Nehemiah was not as susceptible to distracting side hustles like acquiring land. Those who served him were of the same ilk. Men of integrity and those who serve them stay riveted on the main thing.
Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people. (Nehemiah 5:19)
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