Neville Goddard on Nehemiah 5:1-19 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Nehemiah 5 in context

Scripture Focus

1And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

2For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.

3Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

4There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

5Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

6And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

7Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.

8And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.

9Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

10I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.

11Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

12Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.

13Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And 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 unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

15But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

16Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.

17Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.

18Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.

19Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Nehemiah 5:1-19

Biblical Context

Nehemiah hears the people’s cries over debt, mortgages, and bondage. He confronts the unjust usury, gathers leaders, and mandates restitution of lands and goods, choosing to live simply and lead by example.

Neville's Inner Vision

Within your inner realm, the cry matches your own sense of lack calling for relief. The anger I feel is energy waking a new state of consciousness. I consult with my inner self, rebuking the belief that 'brother' and 'enemy' are separate; we are one body suffering under misaligned thinking. We have sacrificed land, time, and breath to feed fear; but I choose not to feed that fear any longer. I resolve to restore the mind’s economy—lands, provisions, and life—through fair exchange of energy and promises kept. I call the priests of my heart to witness, binding the decision with an oath. I shake my lap, releasing every belief that does not keep faith with this inner covenant, and the inner assembly says Amen. I walk now in the fear of God, not the fear of man, continuing the work of this inner wall. Restoration begins in thought and manifests as action in my inner Judah.

Practice This Now

Close your eyes and assume you are the inner governor of your psyche. Speak a decree of restoration to your mind: scarcity ends, fear is replaced by abundance, and you keep your commitments with generosity toward yourself and others.