Nehemiah 5: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Nehemiah 5 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

A great cry arose from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews because of the famine. Some complained about needing grain to eat and live (vv. 1-2).

Key verse

“Also I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?”
Nehemiah 5:9 (WEB)

Outline

Nehemiah 5:1–5 The People's Cry for Help
Nehemiah 5:6–9 Nehemiah's Anger and Confrontation
Nehemiah 5:10–13 Call to Stop Usury
Nehemiah 5:14–18 Nehemiah's Leadership Example
Nehemiah 5:19 Nehemiah's Prayer for Remembrance

Discussion questions

In v2, what do the people say they need to 'eat and live'?
What does Nehemiah mean by 'usury' in v7?
In vv. 9-10, how does Nehemiah connect the people's actions to 'the reproach of the nations'?
In v14, why does Nehemiah mention he did not eat the 'bread of the governor'?
When have you seen someone in need, as the people were in v5, and how did you respond?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Nehemiah 5: Nehemiah 13, Leviticus 25, Isaiah 58.

Before next time: read Nehemiah 6.