The Birth of Judaism

Nehemiah was a jew born in babylon, a former cup bearer to the persian emperor. He managed to talk the great king into appointing him governor of his native judea. The problem was that nehemiah quickly found himself confronted with a social crisis all around him. Impoverished peasants were unable to pay their taxes. Creditors were carrying off the children of the poor. His first resonse was to issue a classic babylonian style, clean slate edict. All non commercial debts were to be forgiven. Maximum interest rates were set.