Amputation, however much agony it may entail, is necessary if mortification has set in.
'If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.' The first evil has been dealt with and cleared away, Tobiah and his goods have been cast out of the temple.

Nehemiah now passes on to the next thing which had so greatly shocked him on his arrival in Jerusalem, namely, the neglect on the part of the people with regard to the payment of what was due from them for the temple service.
Again Nehemiah takes strong measures.

He calls together the rulers, as the leaders and representatives of the rest, and he gives them very strongly his mind on the subject.

No smooth words or gentle hints will do.