그리하여 나는 날마다 황소 한 마리와 살진 양 여섯 마리와 날짐승 몇 마리씩을 잡아야 했다. 그리고 열흘마다 온갖 종류의 포도주를 넉넉하게 마련하여야 했다. 이렇게 하면서도 나는 총독 몫으로 나오게 되어 있는 양식을 요구하지 않았다. 백성들의 짐이 무거웠기 때문이다.
이 구절의 의미
Nehemiah, a governor, shares that he was given a lot of food and wine daily, but he didn't take the usual governor's pay because the people were already struggling with heavy taxes and workloads. His key message is about self-sacrifice for the people's welfare.
어린이를 위한 설명
Imagine if you had a piggy bank full of coins, but instead of using those coins for yourself, you decided to keep them untouched because your friends didn't have enough money for snacks. That's what Nehemiah did for his people.
역사적 배경
Nehemiah, who lived around 445-433 BCE, wrote this book during his tenure as governor of Judah. He was addressing a situation where the returning exiles were struggling with economic hardships, and he wanted to show his commitment to their well-being.
오늘의 적용
Consider a scenario where you are in charge of a community project. Instead of using your position to benefit yourself, you could use the resources to help the community thrive, much like Nehemiah did for his people.
Why didn't Nehemiah take the bread of the governor?
Nehemiah refrained from taking the usual governor's pay because he saw that the people were already burdened by heavy taxes and workloads, and he wanted to ease their financial strain.
What does 'bread of the governor' mean in Nehemiah 5:18?
The phrase 'bread of the governor' refers to the food and other supplies a governor typically received as part of his job benefits, which Nehemiah chose not to take.
How did Nehemiah's actions impact the people?
By not taking his pay, Nehemiah showed his commitment to the well-being of the people and likely reduced their financial burden, thus fostering a sense of trust and respect among the community.
Can you give an example of how this verse can be applied in modern leadership?
A modern leader might choose to forgo a bonus or raise to invest in improving the working conditions or salaries of their team, demonstrating a commitment to the welfare of the people they lead.