Charles Ellicott Commentary Nehemiah 5:9

"Also I said, The thing that ye do is not good: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?" — Nehemiah 5:9 (ASV)

Because of the reproach. —This phrase was another strong argument used in the assembly. We learn in Nehemiah 6:0 how watchful the heathen were: all matters were reported to them, and every act of oppression would become a reproach against the God of the Jews.