נחמיה, פרק ה׳, פסוק י׳

A true leader does not demand sacrifices from others without first making those same sacrifices himself. Faced with a severe social crisis, Nehemiah steps forward to offer a personal example of financial surrender, asking the wealthy members of the nation to do exactly what he demands of himself.

Anticipating resistance, Nehemiah addresses a potential criticism before it can even be spoken. He knows the wealthy creditors might dismiss his rebuke, arguing that he is only demanding the cancellation of debts because he personally has nothing to lose. To prevent this, he makes it clear that he and his associates have also lent money to the people [מלבי״ם]. He stands as a creditor himself, fully aware of the heavy financial burden these loans place on the borrowers [רש״י, מנחת שי]. Yet, despite having a right to collect, he willingly chooses to forgive the debts owed to him.

Turning to the wealthy elite, Nehemiah asks them to follow his lead. Just as he is walking away from the money he is owed, he urges them to abandon their claims and grant complete forgiveness to those in debt [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This powerful plea is not merely a practical solution to a temporary crisis; it is a return to the biblical Commandment regarding the release of debts. It echoes the ancient requirement to completely drop any financial claim against another person, offering total forgiveness and relief from the burden of debt [ר' סעדיה גאון].