Nehemiah 5:3 Some also there were that said we’ve mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth. 4 There were also that said we’ve borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
In the above passage we observed that the Jews in the days of Nehemiah were brought very low, so that many of them were forced into insolvency and some were forced to live off of the equity in their homes, until it reached a tipping point, where they couldn’t borrow anymore funds, and many lost their homes to foreclosure as a result.
[Prophets & Kings pp 646] In order to obtain food for their families, the poor were obliged to buy on credit and at exorbitant prices. They were also compelled to raise money by borrowing on interest to pay the heavy taxes imposed upon them by the kings of Persia. To add to the distress of the poor, the more-wealthy among the Jews had taken advantage of their necessities, thus enriching themselves.
Using one’s home as a piggy bank, to live, is a recipe for disaster, and is to be avoided wherever possible, for in the situation which obtained in Nehemiah’s day, the Jews got caught in the deadly cycle of being forced to continually borrow against their assets, without a way to replenish. And wherever that cycle is to be found, it is just a matter of time before folks will implode financially if radical change is not made. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.
Nehemiah 5:5 Yet 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.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!