John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. And I said unto them , etc.] The nobles, and rulers, and other rich persons that exacted usury of the poor: we after our ability ; speaking of himself in the plural number, which now obtained in the court of Persia; or of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and others, who, according as their worldly circumstances, having been captives, would admit of: have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the Heathen ; not that they had given a ransom for them to Cyrus, or any other king of Persia, which would be contrary to the prophecies concerning their redemption, ( Isaiah 45:13 52:3) but such who had sold themselves to particular persons in Babylon, who, without being redeemed, could not take the advantage of the liberty granted by Cyrus, and his successors; and it may be there were others also in the like circumstances, in other neighbouring nations, that had been redeemed this way. The Jewish canon now is, he that sells himself, and his children, to Gentiles, they do not redeem; but they redeem the children after their father’s death; which the commentators explain of the third time that he sells himself: and will you even sell your brethren ? their lands and vineyards mortgaged to them, and even their persons: or shall they be sold unto us ? must we be obliged to buy them, and to redeem them: then they held their peace, and found nothing to answer ; being convinced they had done wrong, by the arguments used, to which they could make no reply.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-13 - Nehemiah knew that, if he built Jerusalem's walls ever so high, s thick, or so strong, the city could not be safe while there wer abuses. The right way to reform men's lives, is to convince their consciences. If you walk in the fear of God, you will not be eithe covetous of worldly gain, or cruel toward your brethren. Nothin exposes religion more to reproach, than the worldliness an hard-heartedness of the professors of it. Those that rigorously insis upon their right, with a very ill grace try to persuade others to giv up theirs. In reasoning with selfish people, it is good to contras their conduct with that of others who are liberal; but it is best to point to His example, who though he was rich, yet for our sakes becam poor, that we, through his poverty, might be rich, 2Co 8:9. They di according to promise. Good promises are good things, but goo performances are better.
Original Hebrew ואמרה559 להם אנחנו587 קנינו7069 את853 אחינו251 היהודים3064 הנמכרים4376 לגוים1471 כדי1767 בנו וגם1571 אתם859 תמכרו4376 את853 אחיכם251 ונמכרו4376 לנו ויחרישׁו2790 ולא3808 מצאו4672 דבר׃1696
