Matthew Poole and continuators on Nehemiah 5:3

3 Some also there were that said, We have morgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth .

Which might easily happen, both from the multitude of the People now [illegible: 1+ letters]n & near Ierusalem, and from their building work, which wholly took them up, and kept them from taking care of their own Families, and from the expectation and dread of their Enemies Invasion, which hindred them from going abroad to fetch in Provision, and the People round about from bringing it in to them; or from divers other causes.