Nehemiah 5:15

5:15 But the former governors who preceded me had burdened the people and had taken food and wine from them, in addition to ¹  forty shekels of silver. Their associates were also domineering over the people. But I did not behave in this way, due to my fear of God.

Nehemiah 6:18

6:18 For many in Judah had sworn allegiance to him, ²  because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah. His son Jonathan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.

Nehemiah 10:31

10:31 We will not buy ³  on the Sabbath or on a holy day from the neighboring peoples who bring their wares and all kinds of grain to sell on the Sabbath day. We will let the fields lie fallow every seventh year, and we will cancel every loan. ⁴ 

[5:15]  ¹ tc The Hebrew term אַחַר (’akhar) is difficult here. It normally means “after,” but that makes no sense here. Some scholars emend it to אַחַד (’akhad) and supply the word “day,” which yields the sense “daily.” Cf. TEV “40 silver coins a day for food and wine.”

[6:18]  ² tn Heb “were lords of oath.”

[10:31]  ³ tn Heb “take.”

[10:31]  ⁴ tn Heb “debt of every hand,” an idiom referring to the hand that holds legally binding contractual agreements.