I called together a large meeting to deal with them. The difficulty in knowing whether interest is specifically in mind in this verse also contributes to uncertainty over whether Nehemiah has strict legal grounds for intervening in the economic arrangements. Biblical legislation did allow for securing loans with pledges (e.g., Deut. 24:10), so the creditors may not be violating the letter of the law. As governor, Nehemiah could potentially impose a solution to the crisis, but instead he brings the