נחמיה, פרק ה׳, פסוק ו׳

Nehemiah's intense anger is a direct response to a deeply broken society. When confronted with the suffering of the people, his reaction is driven by two different types of social injustice that are brought to his attention. He learns of two separate appeals for help, each revealing a different layer of wrongdoing within the community.

The first wave of pain comes from the poorest members of society. They are crying out because they are being denied basic charity and support, suffering from the passive neglect of those around them. The second issue is much more aggressive. Another group comes forward with claims of direct extortion and cruel mistreatment. Nehemiah is deeply angered by this devastating combination: the refusal to help the needy and the active abuse of the vulnerable [מלבי״ם].