MPV Commentary

The People Complain of Their Debt, Mortgage, and Bondage.

In this difficult time for the Jews in Jerusalem, a great outcry arose among the people against their brethren. The harsh labor and constant harassment by enemies had taken its toll on many, leaving them poor and disillusioned with the promise of a better life in their ancestral homeland. To make matters worse, some began to suffer under a new and crushing burden: usury.

The poor were being exploited by the wealthy, who were taking advantage of their desperate situation to extract excessive interest payments. As a result, many people had to mortgage their lands and homes just to pay taxes to the Persian government. Some even resorted to selling their children into slavery in order to survive. The condition of the poorer inhabitants was dire, exacerbated by the poor harvests caused by the heavy rains (Ezra 10:9; Haggai 1:6-11) and the looming threat of famine due to the enemy's blockade of the city, preventing food from being brought in from the countryside.