그들을 먹여 살리기 위해 날마다 황소 한 마리와 기름진 양 여섯 마리와 닭들을 준비했습니다. 그리고 열흘에 한 번씩 각종 포도주도 준비했습니다. 그러나 나는 총독이 되면 당연히 받아야 할 음식을 한 번도 달라고 하지 않았습니다. 그렇게 한 까닭은 백성들의 짐이 너무 크다는 것을 알고 있었기 때문입니다.
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.