Nehemiah 13:15

¶ 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.

In those days {H3117} saw {H7200} I in Judah {H3063} some treading {H1869} wine presses {H1660} on the sabbath {H7676}, and bringing in {H935} sheaves {H6194}, and lading {H6006} asses {H2543}; as also wine {H3196}, grapes {H6025}, and figs {H8384}, and all manner of burdens {H4853}, which they brought {H935} into Jerusalem {H3389} on the sabbath {H7676} day {H3117}: and I testified {H5749} against them in the day {H3117} wherein they sold {H4376} victuals {H6718}.

During this time I saw in Y'hudah some people who were treading winepresses on Shabbat, also bringing in heaps of grain and loading donkeys with it, likewise wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of loads; and they were bringing them into Yerushalayim on the day of Shabbat. On the day when they were planning to sell the food, I warned them not to.

In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day.

In those days saw I in Judah some men treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses therewith; 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.

Nehemiah 13:15 describes Nehemiah's dismay and forceful confrontation of the people of Judah who were openly violating the Sabbath. After returning to Jerusalem from a period away, Nehemiah found that the spiritual reforms he had previously instituted had deteriorated, and the sanctity of the Sabbath day was being disregarded for commercial gain.

Context

This verse is part of Nehemiah's second set of reforms upon his return to Jerusalem, likely around 432 BC, after serving King Artaxerxes in Persia. He had previously overseen the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls and initiated a period of spiritual revival and commitment to the Mosaic Law. However, during his absence, the people had fallen back into old habits, including intermarriage with foreign nations, neglecting the Levites, and crucially, profaning the Sabbath. Nehemiah's observations in this chapter highlight a significant spiritual decline and a widespread disregard for God's covenant commands.

Key Themes

  • Sabbath Desecration: The primary issue highlighted is the open violation of the Sabbath, a day consecrated for rest and worship according to God's law (Exodus 20:8). People were treading wine presses, bringing in agricultural produce, loading animals, and selling food – all forms of labor and commerce expressly forbidden on this holy day.
  • Spiritual Complacency and Disobedience: The widespread Sabbath breaking signals a deeper spiritual apathy and a failure to honor the covenant God had made with Israel. Despite their recent return from exile, which was partly a consequence of previous generations' unfaithfulness, the people were repeating patterns of disobedience.
  • Nehemiah's Zeal for God's Law: Nehemiah's reaction ("I testified against them") demonstrates his unwavering commitment to God's commands and his bold leadership. He did not passively observe but actively confronted the sin, seeking to restore the spiritual integrity of the community and uphold the divine standard.
  • Consequences of Unfaithfulness: Prophets like Jeremiah had previously warned Israel that persistent Sabbath breaking would lead to severe judgment, including exile. Nehemiah recognized that continued disobedience could jeopardize the fragile restoration they had achieved.

Linguistic Insights

The term "sabbath" (Hebrew: Shabbat) literally means "cessation" or "rest." It was more than just a day off; it was a sacred cessation from all customary labor, intended to remind Israel of God as Creator and Deliverer, and to provide time for spiritual reflection and communal worship. The specific activities mentioned—"treading wine presses," "bringing in sheaves," "lading asses," and "selling victuals"—all represent forms of work and commerce that directly contradicted the spirit and letter of the Sabbath law.

Practical Application

Nehemiah 13:15 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Honoring God's Commands: The passage challenges us to examine if we are prioritizing God's commands in our lives, or if worldly pursuits and personal convenience are taking precedence. It underscores the importance of obedience as a demonstration of our love for God.
  • The Principle of Rest and Worship: While Christians typically observe Sunday as a day of worship and rest in commemoration of Christ's resurrection, the underlying principle of setting aside dedicated time for God, spiritual renewal, and physical rest remains vital. It's a call to disconnect from the demands of labor and commerce to reconnect with the divine.
  • Spiritual Vigilance: Nehemiah's example highlights the need for vigilance against spiritual complacency, both individually and within the community of faith. It reminds us that even after periods of revival, there is a constant need to guard against backsliding and to uphold biblical standards.
  • Courageous Leadership: Nehemiah's willingness to confront sin directly serves as a model for spiritual leaders and individuals alike to address ungodly practices and work for the restoration of biblical fidelity within their spheres of influence.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Nehemiah 10:31

    And [if] the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, [that] we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and [that] we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

  • Nehemiah 13:21

    Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do [so] again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no [more] on the sabbath.

  • Exodus 34:21

    Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.

  • Isaiah 58:13

    ¶ If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words:

  • Exodus 20:8

    Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

  • Exodus 20:11

    For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

  • Jeremiah 17:21

    Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring [it] in by the gates of Jerusalem;

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