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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 13:15-22

Here is another instance of that blessed reformation in which Nehemiah was so active. He revived sabbath-sanctification, and maintained the authority of the fourth commandment; and a very good deed this was for the house of God and the offices thereof, for, where holy time is over-looked and made nothing of, it is not strange if all holy duties be neglected. Here is, I. A remonstrance of the abuse. The law of the sabbath was very strict and much insisted one, and with good reason, for religion... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:15

In those days saw I in Judah some treading winepresses on the sabbath ,.... Which was not a work of necessity, and so did not drive away the sabbath, as the Jews express themselves, but might have been deferred to another day: and bringing in sheaves ; of wheat, it being the time of wheat harvest: and lading asses ; with goods to be carried from place to place, and sold on that day; this was contrary to the express law, for the ass was to rest, Deuteronomy 5:14 , as also wine,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:16

There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish ,.... From Tyre and Zidon, and the parts adjacent: these they brought from Joppa, and from thence to Jerusalem, and had houses or lodgings near the fish gate or fish market, where they sold them: and all manner of ware ; or merchandise, which, being a trading city, they had from all nations: and sold on the sabbath day unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem ; or even in Jerusalem, the holy city, where stood the temple,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:17

Then I contended with the nobles ,.... The rulers of the city, the civil magistrates, sharply reproved them for their neglect of duty: and said unto them, what evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day ? by suffering servile works to be done in it, and things sold on it. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:18

Did not your fathers thus ,.... Profane the sabbath in like manner: and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon our city ? suffered them to be carried captive into a strange land, and their city destroyed for their sins, and for this of sabbath breaking among the rest, see Jeremiah 17:21 , yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath ; additional judgments to those that had been already upon them for the same evil with others. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:19

And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath ,.... Or "were shaded" F7 צללו "obumbratae", Pagninus, Montanus; "obumbrarentur", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Rambachius; "incidentibus umbris", Tigurine version. ; that is, as Jarchi interprets it, when the shadows of the eve of the sabbath were stretched out upon the gates; the sabbath did not begin till sun setting, and the stars appeared; but before that, as the sun was declining, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:20

For the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware ,.... The Tyrians particularly, Nehemiah 13:16 lodged without Jerusalem once or twice; one sabbath day or two, not being able to get into the city, such strict watch and care being taken to keep the gates shut; this they did, hoping the Jews would come out to them and buy their goods, though they were not admitted to bring them within the city. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:21

Then I testified against them ,.... Against their continuance there, and threatened them, and called heaven and earth to witness what he would do to them, if they did not depart: why lodge ye about the wall ? of the city, waiting an opportunity to get in, and tempting the Jews to come out and buy their ware: if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you ; beat them, or slay them, at least imprison them: from that time forth came they no more on the sabbath ; finding there was no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:22

And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves ,.... From all ceremonial uncleanness, that they might be fit in a ceremonial sense to perform the duties of the office on the sabbath day: and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day ; not the gates of the city, his servants were placed there, nor was this the work of the Levites, and much less did this require a particular purification to fit for it; but the gates of the temple, that no impure... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 13:15

Treading wine-presses - The Sabbath appears to have been totally disregarded. read more

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