Nehemiah 5:3

“Some also there were that said, we have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, etc.] Made them over to others, put them into their hands as pledges for money received of them: that we may buy corn; for the support of their families: because of the dearth; or famine; which might be occasioned by their enemies lying in wait and intercepting all provisions that might be brought to them; for this seems not to be the famine spoken of in (<370110>Haggai 1:10,11) for that was some years before this, and for a reason which now was not.”

“The dearth - Which might happen, both from the multitude of the people in and near Jerusalem, from their work, which wholly took them up, and kept them from taking care of their families, and from the expectation of their enemies invasion, which hindered them from going abroad to fetch provision, and the people round about from bringing it to them. Nehemiah 5:5”

“5:3 Some small landowners had mortgaged everything to survive. The famine made the problem worse because grain was scarce and the price of food naturally increased.”

“mortgaged: Gen 47:15-25; Lev 25:35-39; Deu 15:7 because: Mal 3:8-11 Nehemiah 5:4”