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Selected Verse: Nehemiah 13:15 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ne 13:15	Strong Concordance	In those days [03117] saw [07200] I in Judah [03063] some treading [01869] wine presses [01660] on the sabbath [07676], and bringing in [0935] sheaves [06194], and lading [06006] asses [02543]; as also wine [03196], grapes [06025], and figs [08384], and all manner of burdens [04853], which they brought [0935] into Jerusalem [03389] on the sabbath [07676] day [03117]: and I testified [05749] against them in the day [03117] wherein they sold [04376] victuals [06718].
	King James	In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
THE VIOLATION OF THE SABBATH. (Neh. 13:15-31) In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine-presses on the sabbath--The cessation of the temple services had been necessarily followed by a public profanation of the Sabbath, and this had gone so far that labor was carried on in the fields, and fish brought to the markets on the sacred day. Nehemiah took the decisive step of ordering the city gates to be shut, and not to be opened, till the Sabbath was past; and in order to ensure the faithful execution of this order, he stationed some of his own servants as guards, to prevent the introduction of any commodities on that day. On the merchants and various dealers finding admission denied them, they set up booths outside the walls, in hopes of still driving a traffic with the peasantry; but the governor threatened, if they continued, to adopt violent measures for their removal. For this purpose a body of Levites was stationed as sentinels at the gate, with discretionary powers to protect the sanctification of the Sabbath.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

THE VIOLATION OF THE SABBATH. (Neh. 13:15-31)

In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine-presses on the sabbath--The cessation of the temple services had been necessarily followed by a public profanation of the Sabbath, and this had gone so far that labor was carried on in the fields, and fish brought to the markets on the sacred day. Nehemiah took the decisive step of ordering the city gates to be shut, and not to be opened, till the Sabbath was past; and in order to ensure the faithful execution of this order, he stationed some of his own servants as guards, to prevent the introduction of any commodities on that day. On the merchants and various dealers finding admission denied them, they set up booths outside the walls, in hopes of still driving a traffic with the peasantry; but the governor threatened, if they continued, to adopt violent measures for their removal. For this purpose a body of Levites was stationed as sentinels at the gate, with discretionary powers to protect the sanctification of the Sabbath.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The desecration of the Sabbath is first brought into prominence among the sins of the Jewish people by Jeremiah Jer 17:21-27. It could not but have gained ground during the captivity, when foreign masters would not have allowed the cessation of labor for one day in seven. On the return from the captivity, the sabbatical rest appears to have been one of the institutions most difficult to re-establish. In the day - Some render, "concerning the day."

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
Field-work and trading on the Sabbath done away with. - Neh 13:15. In those days, i.e., when he was occupied with the arrangements for worship, Nehemiah saw in Judah (in the province) some treading wine-presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses, and also wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of burdens, and bringing it to Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day. The מביאים is again taken up by the second וּמביאים, and more closely defined by the addition: to Jerusalem. Robinson describes an ancient wine-press in his Biblical Researches, p. 178. On כּל־משּׂא, comp. Jer 17:21. ואעיד, and I testified (against them), i.e., warned them on the day wherein they sold victuals. ציד, food, victuals; Psa 132:15; Jos 9:5, Jos 9:14. He warned them no longer to sell victuals on the Sabbath-day. Bertheau, on the contrary, thinks that Nehemiah saw how the market people in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem started while it was still the Sabbath, not for the purpose of selling during that day, but for that of being early in the market on the next day, or the next but one. The text, however, offers no support to such a notion. In Neh 13:16 it is expressly said that selling took place in Jerusalem on the Sabbath; and the very bringing thither of wine, grapes, etc., on the Sabbath, presupposes that the sale of these articles was transacted on that day. Neh 13:16 Tyrians also were staying therein, bringing fish and all kind of ware (מכר), and sold it on the Sabbath to the sons of Judah and in Jerusalem. ישׁב is by most expositors translated, to dwell; but it is improbable that Tyrians would at that time dwell or settle at Jerusalem: hence ישׁב here means to sit, i.e., to stay awhile undisturbed, to tarry. Neh 13:17-18 Nehemiah reproved the nobles of Judah for this profanation of the Sabbath, reminding them how their fathers (forefathers) by such acts (as rebuked e.g., by Jeremiah, Jer 17:21.) had brought upon the people and the city great evil, i.e., the misery of their former exile and present oppression; remarking in addition, "and ye are bringing more wrath upon Israel, profaning the Sabbath," i.e., you are only increasing the wrath of God already lying upon Israel, by your desecration of the Sabbath. Comp. on the last thought, Ezr 10:10, Ezr 10:14. He also instituted measures for the abolition of this trespass. Neh 13:19 He commanded that the gates of Jerusalem should be closed when it began to be dark before the Sabbath, and not re-opened till the Sabbath was over. In the description of this measure the command and its execution are intermixed, or rather the execution is brought forward as the chief matter, and the command inserted therein. "And it came to pass, as soon as the gates of Jerusalem were dark (i.e., when it was dark in the gates) before the Sabbath, I commanded, and the gates were shut; and I commanded that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath," i.e., after sunset on the Sabbath-day. צלל, in the sense of to grow dark, occurs in Hebrew only here, and is an Aramaean expression. Nehemiah also placed some of his servants at the gates, that no burdens, i.e., no wares, victuals, etc., might be brought in on the Sabbath. אשׁר is wanting before יבוא לא; the command is directly alluded to, and, with the command, must be supplied before יבוא לא. The placing of the watch was necessary, because the gates could not be kept strictly closed during the whole of the day, and ingress and egress thus entirely forbidden to the inhabitants. Neh 13:20 Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of ware remained throughout the night outside Jerusalem, once and twice. Thus, because egress from the city could not be refused to the inhabitants, the rest of the Sabbath was broken outside the gates. Nehemiah therefore put an end to this misdemeanour also. Neh 13:21 He warned the merchants to do this no more, threatening them: "If you do (this) again (i.e., pass the night before the walls), I will lay hands on you," i.e., drive you away by force. The form לנים for לנים occurs only here as a "semi-passive" formation; comp. Ewald, 151, b. From that time forth they came no more on the Sabbath. Neh 13:22 A further measure taken by Nehemiah for the sanctification of the Sabbath according to the law, is so briefly narrated, that it does not plainly appear in what it consisted. "I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and they should come keep the gates to sanctify the Sabbath-day." The meaning of the words השּׁערים שׁמרים בּאים is doubtful. The Masoretes have separated בּאים from שׁמרים by Sakeph; while de Wette, Bertheau, and others combine these words: and that they should come to the keepers of the doors. This translation cannot be justified by the usage of the language; for בּוא with an accusative of the person occurs only, as may be proved, in prophetical and poetical diction (Job 20:22; Pro 10:24; Isa 41:25; Eze 32:11), and then in the sense of to come upon some one, to surprise him, and never in the meaning of to come or go to some one. Nor does this unjustifiable translation give even an appropriate sense. Why should the Levites go to the doorkeepers to sanctify the Sabbath? Bertheau thinks it was for the purpose of solemnly announcing to the doorkeepers that the holy day had begun, or to advertise them by some form of consecration of its commencement. This, however, would have been either a useless or unmeaning ceremony. Hence we must relinquish this connection of the words, and either combine השּׁערים שׁמרים as an asyndeton with בּאים: coming and watching the gates, or: coming as watchers of the gates; and then the measure taken would consist in the appointment of certain Levites to keep the gates on the Sabbath, as well as the ordinary keepers, thus consecrating the Sabbath as a holy day above ordinary days. Nehemiah concludes the account of the abolition of this irregularity, as well as the preceding, by invoking a blessing upon himself; comp. rem. on Neh 13:14. על חוּסה like Joe 2:17.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

Field-work and trading on the Sabbath done away with. - Neh 13:15. In those days, i.e., when he was occupied with the arrangements for worship, Nehemiah saw in Judah (in the province) some treading wine-presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses, and also wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of burdens, and bringing it to Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day. The מביאים is again taken up by the second וּמביאים, and more closely defined by the addition: to Jerusalem. Robinson describes an ancient wine-press in his Biblical Researches, p. 178. On כּל־משּׂא, comp. Jer 17:21. ואעיד, and I testified (against them), i.e., warned them on the day wherein they sold victuals. ציד, food, victuals; Psa 132:15; Jos 9:5, Jos 9:14. He warned them no longer to sell victuals on the Sabbath-day. Bertheau, on the contrary, thinks that Nehemiah saw how the market people in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem started while it was still the Sabbath, not for the purpose of selling during that day, but for that of being early in the market on the next day, or the next but one. The text, however, offers no support to such a notion. In Neh 13:16 it is expressly said that selling took place in Jerusalem on the Sabbath; and the very bringing thither of wine, grapes, etc., on the Sabbath, presupposes that the sale of these articles was transacted on that day.

Neh 13:16

Tyrians also were staying therein, bringing fish and all kind of ware (מכר), and sold it on the Sabbath to the sons of Judah and in Jerusalem. ישׁב is by most expositors translated, to dwell; but it is improbable that Tyrians would at that time dwell or settle at Jerusalem: hence ישׁב here means to sit, i.e., to stay awhile undisturbed, to tarry.

Neh 13:17-18

Nehemiah reproved the nobles of Judah for this profanation of the Sabbath, reminding them how their fathers (forefathers) by such acts (as rebuked e.g., by Jeremiah, Jer 17:21.) had brought upon the people and the city great evil, i.e., the misery of their former exile and present oppression; remarking in addition, "and ye are bringing more wrath upon Israel, profaning the Sabbath," i.e., you are only increasing the wrath of God already lying upon Israel, by your desecration of the Sabbath. Comp. on the last thought, Ezr 10:10, Ezr 10:14. He also instituted measures for the abolition of this trespass.

Neh 13:19

He commanded that the gates of Jerusalem should be closed when it began to be dark before the Sabbath, and not re-opened till the Sabbath was over. In the description of this measure the command and its execution are intermixed, or rather the execution is brought forward as the chief matter, and the command inserted therein. "And it came to pass, as soon as the gates of Jerusalem were dark (i.e., when it was dark in the gates) before the Sabbath, I commanded, and the gates were shut; and I commanded that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath," i.e., after sunset on the Sabbath-day. צלל, in the sense of to grow dark, occurs in Hebrew only here, and is an Aramaean expression. Nehemiah also placed some of his servants at the gates, that no burdens, i.e., no wares, victuals, etc., might be brought in on the Sabbath. אשׁר is wanting before יבוא לא; the command is directly alluded to, and, with the command, must be supplied before יבוא לא. The placing of the watch was necessary, because the gates could not be kept strictly closed during the whole of the day, and ingress and egress thus entirely forbidden to the inhabitants.

Neh 13:20

Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of ware remained throughout the night outside Jerusalem, once and twice. Thus, because egress from the city could not be refused to the inhabitants, the rest of the Sabbath was broken outside the gates. Nehemiah therefore put an end to this misdemeanour also.

Neh 13:21

He warned the merchants to do this no more, threatening them: "If you do (this) again (i.e., pass the night before the walls), I will lay hands on you," i.e., drive you away by force. The form לנים for לנים occurs only here as a "semi-passive" formation; comp. Ewald, 151, b. From that time forth they came no more on the Sabbath.

Neh 13:22

A further measure taken by Nehemiah for the sanctification of the Sabbath according to the law, is so briefly narrated, that it does not plainly appear in what it consisted. "I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and they should come keep the gates to sanctify the Sabbath-day." The meaning of the words השּׁערים שׁמרים בּאים is doubtful. The Masoretes have separated בּאים from שׁמרים by Sakeph; while de Wette, Bertheau, and others combine these words: and that they should come to the keepers of the doors. This translation cannot be justified by the usage of the language; for בּוא with an accusative of the person occurs only, as may be proved, in prophetical and poetical diction (Job 20:22; Pro 10:24; Isa 41:25; Eze 32:11), and then in the sense of to come upon some one, to surprise him, and never in the meaning of to come or go to some one. Nor does this unjustifiable translation give even an appropriate sense. Why should the Levites go to the doorkeepers to sanctify the Sabbath? Bertheau thinks it was for the purpose of solemnly announcing to the doorkeepers that the holy day had begun, or to advertise them by some form of consecration of its commencement. This, however, would have been either a useless or unmeaning ceremony. Hence we must relinquish this connection of the words, and either combine השּׁערים שׁמרים as an asyndeton with בּאים: coming and watching the gates, or: coming as watchers of the gates; and then the measure taken would consist in the appointment of certain Levites to keep the gates on the Sabbath, as well as the ordinary keepers, thus consecrating the Sabbath as a holy day above ordinary days. Nehemiah concludes the account of the abolition of this irregularity, as well as the preceding, by invoking a blessing upon himself; comp. rem. on Neh 13:14. על חוּסה like Joe 2:17.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Treading wine-presses - The Sabbath appears to have been totally disregarded.

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²¹ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; Take heed [08104] to yourselves [05315], and bear [05375] no burden [04853] on the sabbath [07676] day [03117], nor bring [0935] it in by the gates [08179] of Jerusalem [03389];
²² Neither carry forth [03318] a burden [04853] out of your houses [01004] on the sabbath [07676] day [03117], neither do [06213] ye any work [04399], but hallow [06942] ye the sabbath [07676] day [03117], as I commanded [06680] your fathers [01].
²³ But they obeyed [08085] not, neither inclined [05186] their ear [0241], but made their neck [06203] stiff [07185], that they might not hear [08085], nor receive [03947] instruction [04148].
²⁴ And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently [08085] hearken [08085] unto me, saith [05002] the LORD [03068], to bring [0935] in no burden [04853] through the gates [08179] of this city [05892] on the sabbath [07676] day [03117], but hallow [06942] the sabbath [07676] day [03117], to do [06213] no [01115] work [04399] therein;
²⁵ Then shall there enter [0935] into the gates [08179] of this city [05892] kings [04428] and princes [08269] sitting [03427] upon the throne [03678] of David [01732], riding [07392] in chariots [07393] and on horses [05483], they, and their princes [08269], the men [0376] of Judah [03063], and the inhabitants [03427] of Jerusalem [03389]: and this city [05892] shall remain [03427] for ever [05769].
²⁶ And they shall come [0935] from the cities [05892] of Judah [03063], and from the places about [05439] Jerusalem [03389], and from the land [0776] of Benjamin [01144], and from the plain [08219], and from the mountains [02022], and from the south [05045], bringing [0935] burnt offerings [05930], and sacrifices [02077], and meat offerings [04503], and incense [03828], and bringing [0935] sacrifices of praise [08426], unto the house [01004] of the LORD [03068].
²⁷ But if ye will not hearken [08085] unto me to hallow [06942] the sabbath [07676] day [03117], and not to bear [05375] a burden [04853], even entering in [0935] at the gates [08179] of Jerusalem [03389] on the sabbath [07676] day [03117]; then will I kindle [03341] a fire [0784] in the gates [08179] thereof, and it shall devour [0398] the palaces [0759] of Jerusalem [03389], and it shall not be quenched [03518].

¹⁷ Let the priests [03548], the ministers [08334] of the LORD [03068], weep [01058] between the porch [0197] and the altar [04196], and let them say [0559], Spare [02347] thy people [05971], O LORD [03068], and give [05414] not thine heritage [05159] to reproach [02781], that the heathen [01471] should rule over [04910] them: wherefore should they say [0559] among the people [05971], Where is their God [0430]?

¹⁴ Remember [02142] me, O my God [0430], concerning this, and wipe not out [04229] my good [02617] deeds that I have done [06213] for the house [01004] of my God [0430], and for the offices [04929] thereof.

¹¹ For thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069]; The sword [02719] of the king [04428] of Babylon [0894] shall come [0935] upon thee.

²⁵ I have raised up [05782] one from the north [06828], and he shall come [0857]: from the rising [04217] of the sun [08121] shall he call [07121] upon my name [08034]: and he shall come [0935] upon princes [05461] as upon morter [02563], and as the potter [03335] treadeth [07429] clay [02916].

²⁴ The fear [04034] of the wicked [07563], it shall come [0935] upon him: but the desire [08378] of the righteous [06662] shall be granted [05414].

²² In the fulness [04390] [04390] of his sufficiency [05607] he shall be in straits [03334]: every hand [03027] of the wicked [06001] shall come [0935] upon him.

²² And I commanded [0559] the Levites [03881] that they should cleanse [02891] themselves, and that they should come [0935] and keep [08104] the gates [08179], to sanctify [06942] the sabbath [07676] day [03117]. Remember [02142] me, O my God [0430], concerning this also, and spare [02347] me according to the greatness [07230] of thy mercy [02617].

²¹ Then I testified [05749] against them, and said [0559] unto them, Why lodge [03885] ye about [05048] the wall [02346]? if ye do so again [08138], I will lay [07971] hands [03027] on you. From that time [06256] forth came [0935] they no more on the sabbath [07676].

²⁰ So the merchants [07402] and sellers [04376] of all kind of ware [04465] lodged [03885] without [02351] Jerusalem [03389] once [06471] or twice [08147].

¹⁹ And it came to pass, that when the gates [08179] of Jerusalem [03389] began to be dark [06751] before [06440] the sabbath [07676], I commanded [0559] that the gates [01817] should be shut [05462], and charged [0559] that they should not be opened [06605] till after [0310] the sabbath [07676]: and some of my servants [05288] set [05975] I at the gates [08179], that there should no burden [04853] be brought in [0935] on the sabbath [07676] day [03117].

¹⁴ Let now our rulers [08269] of all the congregation [06951] stand [05975], and let all them which have taken [03427] strange [05237] wives [0802] in our cities [05892] come [0935] at appointed [02163] times [06256], and with them the elders [02205] of every city [05892], and the judges [08199] thereof, until the fierce [02740] wrath [0639] of our God [0430] for this matter [01697] be turned [07725] from us.

¹⁰ And Ezra [05830] the priest [03548] stood up [06965], and said [0559] unto them, Ye have transgressed [04603], and have taken [03427] strange [05237] wives [0802], to increase [03254] the trespass [0819] of Israel [03478].

¹⁷ Then I contended [07378] with the nobles [02715] of Judah [03063], and said [0559] unto them, What evil [07451] thing [01697] is this that ye do [06213], and profane [02490] the sabbath [07676] day [03117]?
¹⁸ Did [06213] not your fathers [01] thus, and did [0935] not our God [0430] bring [0935] all this evil [07451] upon us, and upon this city [05892]? yet ye bring [0935] more [03254] wrath [02740] upon Israel [03478] by profaning [02490] the sabbath [07676].

¹⁶ There dwelt [03427] men of Tyre [06876] also therein, which brought [0935] fish [01709] [01709], and all manner of ware [04377], and sold [04376] on the sabbath [07676] unto the children [01121] of Judah [03063], and in Jerusalem [03389].

¹⁴ And the men [0582] took [03947] of their victuals [06718], and asked [07592] not counsel at the mouth [06310] of the LORD [03068].

⁵ And old [01087] shoes [05275] and clouted [02921] upon their feet [07272], and old [01087] garments [08008] upon them; and all the bread [03899] of their provision [06718] was dry [03001] and mouldy [05350].

¹⁵ I will abundantly [01288] bless [01288] her provision [06718]: I will satisfy [07646] her poor [034] with bread [03899].

¹⁵ In those days [03117] saw [07200] I in Judah [03063] some treading [01869] wine presses [01660] on the sabbath [07676], and bringing in [0935] sheaves [06194], and lading [06006] asses [02543]; as also wine [03196], grapes [06025], and figs [08384], and all manner of burdens [04853], which they brought [0935] into Jerusalem [03389] on the sabbath [07676] day [03117]: and I testified [05749] against them in the day [03117] wherein they sold [04376] victuals [06718].