Nehemiah 13:17

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing [is] this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

Then I contended {H7378} with the nobles {H2715} of Judah {H3063}, and said {H559} unto them, What evil {H7451} thing {H1697} is this that ye do {H6213}, and profane {H2490} the sabbath {H7676} day {H3117}?

I disputed with the nobles of Y'hudah, demanding of them, "What is this terrible thing you are doing, profaning the day of Shabbat?

Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

Commentary

Context

Nehemiah 13 describes the prophet-governor Nehemiah's second visit to Jerusalem after serving as cupbearer to Artaxerxes. Upon his return, he found that many of the reforms he had previously implemented, including the strict observance of the Mosaic Law, had been neglected. The people, and especially the leaders, had grown complacent. This verse highlights Nehemiah's direct confrontation with the "nobles of Judah" regarding their failure to uphold the sanctity of the Sabbath day, which was a core tenet of their covenant with God. This spiritual decline was a grave concern, threatening the very identity and future of the restored community.

Key Themes

  • Sanctity of the Sabbath: The Sabbath was not merely a day of rest but a holy day, a sign of God's covenant with Israel (Exodus 31:13). Profaning it, as the nobles allowed by permitting commerce and labor, was a direct affront to God's commandment found in the Decalogue (Exodus 20:8).
  • Leadership Accountability: Nehemiah specifically targets the nobles, recognizing that their laxity set a poor example and contributed to the widespread disobedience. True leadership involves upholding God's standards and ensuring the community adheres to them.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: The people, including these nobles, had previously made a solemn vow to keep God's laws, specifically including the Sabbath (Nehemiah 10:31). Their current actions demonstrated a clear breach of this covenant.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "I contended with" translates the Hebrew verb riv (רִיב), which implies a strong, forceful dispute, often with legal or judicial connotations. Nehemiah was not merely suggesting but actively rebuking and challenging their actions, indicating the severity of the offense. The word "profane" comes from the Hebrew chalal (חָלַל), meaning to make common, to defile, or to violate something sacred. It underscores the seriousness of treating God's holy day as if it were ordinary.

Practical Application

Nehemiah's zeal for God's law offers timeless lessons. For believers today, this verse emphasizes the importance of setting aside time for spiritual rest, worship, and reflection, guarding against the pressures of a secular world that often blurs the lines between sacred and ordinary. It also serves as a powerful reminder for those in positions of influence—whether in the church, family, or community—of their responsibility to model and uphold righteous principles. Spiritual complacency, particularly among leaders, can have far-reaching negative consequences, just as it did in post-exilic Judah. We are called to be diligent in our walk, remembering our own covenant with God, which calls for holiness and obedience not out of rigid legalism, but out of love and gratitude.

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Cross-References

  • Nehemiah 13:11

    Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

  • Nehemiah 13:25

    And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, [saying], Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

  • Jeremiah 22:2

    And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates:

  • Jeremiah 22:23

    O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!

  • Micah 3:1

    ¶ And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; [Is it] not for you to know judgment?

  • Jeremiah 5:5

    I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, [and] the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, [and] burst the bonds.

  • Jeremiah 13:18

    Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, [even] the crown of your glory.
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