Nehemiah met with these businessmen and politicians responsible for the added hardships.
(Are you seeing anything relevant here?)
He accused these men of violating a basic economic law found in the Law of Moses. Usury. They were charging fellow jews interest on loans. He rebuked the wealthy jews for these destructive practices based on their own greed.
In a large public gathering he brought both sides together. He rebuked the wealthy for usury but what he found particularly troubling was their practice of taking the jews given to them in exchange for loans, selling these same slaves to non jews, who in turn sold them back to the jews at a considerable profit. . The law of Moses prohibited such sales. (exodus 21:8) Verse 6 says these sales are wrong. Additionally these men should have revered God and let respect for God's law guide their actions.
Nehemiah and many others WERE lending peope money and providing them with grain, BUT, in ways that did not offend God.
Nehemiah had the King's authority. He ordered these jewish businessmen and politicians to "Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them—one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.”
The jewish elites said:
“We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say. Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised.
13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, “In this way may God shake out of their house and possessions anyone who does not keep this promise. So may such a person be shaken out and emptied!” \
At this the whole assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.