Teks -- Nehemiah 5:14 (NET)

5:14 From the day that I was appointed governor in the land of Judah, that is, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes– twelve years in all– neither I nor my relatives ate the food allotted to the governor.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Neh 5:14 - Twelve years

Not that he continued so long together at Jerusalem, but he so long governed Jerusalem by himself when present, and in his absence, by a deputy.

Wesley: Neh 5:14 - The bread

That allowance which by the laws of God and nations, and of the king of Persia, the governors might require.

JFB: Neh 5:14 - Moreover from the time that I was appointed . . . I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor

We have a remarkable proof both of the opulence and the disinterestedness of Nehemiah. As he declined, on conscientious grounds, to accept the lawful emoluments attached to his government, and yet maintained a style of princely hospitality for twelve years out of his own resources, it is evident that his office of cup-bearer at the court of Shushan must have been very lucrative.

Clarke: Neh 5:14 - I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. - From what is related here, and in the following verse, we find that the table of the governor was always supplied by the people with bread and wine; and, besides, they had forty shekels per diem for their other expenses. The people were also greatly oppressed by the servants and officers of the governor; but, during the twelve years that Nehemiah had been with them, he took not this salary, and ate none of their bread. Nor were his servants permitted to take or exact any thing from them. Having such an example, it was scandalous for their chiefs, priests, and nobles, thus to oppress an afflicted and distressed people.

TSK: Neh 5:14 - from the twentieth // I and my // the bread

from the twentieth : Neh 2:1, Neh 13:6

I and my : 1Co 9:4-15, 1Co 9:18; 2Th 3:8, 2Th 3:9

the bread : Ezr 4:13, Ezr 4:14; Rom 13:6, Rom 13:7

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Neh 5:14 - Twelve years // I and my brethren // The bread of the governor

Twelve years not that he continued so long together at Jerusalem, of which see Neh 2:6 ; but that he so long governed Jerusalem by himself when he was present, and in his absence by a deputy.

I and my brethren either my fellow officers, or they whom I left in my stead, who as they were to do any work, so might have required my rights.

The bread of the governor i.e. that allowance which by the laws of God and nations, and of the king of Persia, the governors might require for the maintenance of their own dignity and office, and of the public service.

Haydock: Neh 5:14 - Not eat

Not eat, out of pity for the poor. (Menochius) ---

He was supported by the king, (Calmet) or by his own patrimony. (Haydock) (Ver. 11.)

Gill: Neh 5:14 - Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah // I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor

Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah,.... That is, by the king of Persia, which was not done when he was first sent into Judea; but very probably when he had finished the wall in fifty two days, he returned to Persia, and gave the king an account of his success, and how things stood in those parts, when he judged it necessary to send him again in the character of a governor, and which was still within the same year, as follows: from the twentieth year, even unto the thirty second year of Artaxerxes, that is, twelve years; see Neh 13:6.

I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor; which was fit and proper for him, and used to be given him; neither he, nor those that assisted him in the government, the principal men he brought along with him, and put into posts and places under him.