“But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, plus forty shekelsof silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people, but I didn’t do so, because of the fear of God.”
Nehemiah 5:15 (WEB)
Context Reading
13Also I shook out my lap, and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn’t perform this promise; even may he be shaken out and emptied like this.” All the assembly said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this promise. 14Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor. 15But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, plus forty shekelsof silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people, but I didn’t do so, because of the fear of God. 16Yes, I also continued in the work of this wall. We didn’t buy any land. All my servants were gathered there to the work. 17Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, in addition to those who came to us from among the nations that were around us.