We, our sons, and our daughters, are many; which is in itself a blessing, but to us is turned into a curse. We take up corn for them, i.e. we are forced by our and their necessities to take up corn, to wit, upon their own unreasonable terms, as is here implied, and plainly expressed in the following relation. Others, Let us take up, &c., i.e. seeing we do the public work, let provision be made for us and our children out of the public stock. But this is no petition, but a complaint, as will appear.
Related Commentaries of Nehemiah 5:2
Nehemiah 5:2
2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.