Nehemiah 5:15-16
5:15 But the former governors who preceded me had burdened the people and had taken food and wine from them, in addition to 1 forty shekels of silver. Their associates were also domineering over the people. But I did not behave in this way, due to my fear of God.
5:16 I gave myself to the work on this wall, without even purchasing 2 a field. All my associates were gathered there for the work.
1 tc The Hebrew term אַחַר (’akhar) is difficult here. It normally means “after,” but that makes no sense here. Some scholars emend it to אַחַד (’akhad) and supply the word “day,” which yields the sense “daily.” Cf. TEV “40 silver coins a day for food and wine.”
2 tn Heb “we did not purchase.”