John Trapp on Nehemiah 5:7

Verſe 7. Then I conſulted with my ſelf] As reaſon required: he was very angry, but yet he keeps within compaſſe, and practiſeth that rule, Be angry, and ſinne not: which, (ſaith one) is the eaſieſt charge under the hardeſt condition that can be. He that will be angry, and not ſinne, let him be angry at nothing but at ſinne: and then ſee to it alſo that it become not a ſinne, by anteverting right reaſon. Nehemiah was not ſo angry but that he could conſult with himſelf, and deliberate what was beſt to be done: his heart conſulted within him, or wiſely over-ruled him: ſo the Hebrew.

Then I rebuked the Nobles and the Elders] Not in his paſſion, but upon ſerious deliberation; and having put himſelf into a fit frame, that he might neither over nor under-do. Valete, quoniam vobis iraſcor, ſaid Archytas to his ſervants that had offended him; I have nothing to ſay to you, till mine anger be over.Plutarch.

And ſaid unto them, you exact uſury, &c.] This reproof was, as it ſhould be, warm but not ſcalding: Words of reviling and diſgrace do ſcald as it were. But words that tend to ſtir up the conſcience to a due conſideration of the fault, theſe are duly warme, and tend to make the Phyſick work more kindly.

Every one of his brother] This was a preſumptuous violation of the Law, Exod. 22.25. Levit. 25.36, 37. and a ſinne that they had ſoundly ſmarted for, Ezek. 22.12. Uſurers are men-eaters, Pſal. 14.4. like Pickrels in a pond, or Sharkes in the Sea, that devoure the leſſer fiſhes. Anno 1235. There were ſpread thorough England certaine Roman Uſurers, called Caurſini (quaſi capientes urſi, devouring bears, quoth Matth. Paris) who had entangled the King, Nobles, and all others that had to deale in the Court of Rome, Speed 613. in their cunning ſnares, under colour of ſupplying with money, ſuch as wanted preſent pay to the Pope: ſo theſe, to the King of Perſia.

And I ſet a great aſſembly againſt them] i. e. I reproved them, firſt, privately, and then publikely, and he doth it ſeverè & ad vivum, roughly and roundly, not going about the buſh with them, though they were Nobles and Rulers. Reprehenſiones perſonatae frigent; 1 Kings 22.8. ſuch as was that of Jehoſhaphat to Ahab, Let not the King ſay ſo. This is to do more harm then good.