I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, "You are exacting usury, each from his brother!" Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.Nehemiah is consulting with...himself? Apparently there is no one for him to speak with on these issues, so he's forced simply to wrestle with his own conscience and understanding of the Law. He has no counselors, no advisers, no support. It's him against everyone in power.
But he knows what God has said. He's going to call them to account for their becoming loan sharks. And he's not just going to speak to them one on one to make them change their minds, nor is he going to just get them in a meeting to rebuke them. No, he summons all the people to hear this one. He's going to shame them publicly, and make sure they can't back out.
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