John Gill Commentary Nehemiah 5:3

"Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get grain, because of the dearth." — Nehemiah 5:3 (ASV)

Some also there were that said, we have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses Made them over to others, putting them into their hands as pledges for money received from 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 (Haggai 1:10Haggai 1:11) for that was some years before this, and for a reason which now was not.