Nehemiah 13 15

Nehemiah 13:15 kjv

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.

Nehemiah 13:15 nkjv

In those days I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions.

Nehemiah 13:15 niv

In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Therefore I warned them against selling food on that day.

Nehemiah 13:15 esv

In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food.

Nehemiah 13:15 nlt

In those days I saw men of Judah treading out their winepresses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in grain, loading it on donkeys, and bringing their wine, grapes, figs, and all sorts of produce to Jerusalem to sell on the Sabbath. So I rebuked them for selling their produce on that day.

Nehemiah 13 verses

Nehemiah 13 15 Meaning

Nehemiah 13:15 describes the prophet-governor's discovery upon his return to Jerusalem: the people of Judah were openly desecrating the Sabbath by engaging in agricultural labor like treading winepresses and bringing in grain. They were also transporting various burdens, including wine, grapes, and figs, into Jerusalem on donkeys for sale, thereby turning the holy day and city into a marketplace. Nehemiah's observation revealed a widespread disregard for God's Law and the covenant they had recently sworn to uphold.

Nehemiah 13 15 Context

Nehemiah 13 opens after Nehemiah's second return to Jerusalem, some twelve years after his initial term as governor (Neh 13:6-7, following his return to Artaxerxes in the 32nd year of the king's reign). During his absence, many of the reforms he had diligently instituted, including the maintenance of temple purity, the financial support for Levites, and Sabbath observance, had begun to unravel. The previous chapters detail the rebuilding of the walls (Ch. 1-6), the repopulation of Jerusalem (Ch. 7), the public reading of the Law (Ch. 8), a national confession of sin (Ch. 9), and the solemn covenant signed by the leaders to obey God's commands (Ch. 10), specifically including the command not to buy or sell on the Sabbath.

Verse 15 marks Nehemiah's dismaying discovery of widespread Sabbath desecration, which he immediately confronts. This incident is not an isolated breach but part of a larger pattern of backsliding, including Tobiah living in a temple chamber (v. 4-9), the withholding of tithes leading to the Levites abandoning their service (v. 10-14), and intermarriage (v. 23-27). Nehemiah's actions in chapter 13 demonstrate his uncompromising zeal for God's holiness and His Law, rectifying these deep-seated failures within the community. The specific activities mentioned – treading winepresses, bringing in grain, loading donkeys, selling provisions – highlight not just individuals but systematic economic activity being conducted on the sacred day.

Nehemiah 13 15 Word analysis

• In those days: This phrase immediately establishes the time frame, signaling a later period in Nehemiah's governorship after his return from Babylon. It sets a chronological marker indicating a deterioration of standards previously upheld.
• I saw: Ra'ah (רָאָה). This indicates direct, personal observation by Nehemiah, emphasizing the clear evidence of the transgression. It suggests he didn't just hear reports but witnessed the profaning of the Sabbath himself.
• in Judah: Refers to the region, indicating the problem was widespread, not confined to a single locality or household. It implicates the broader community that had sworn to keep the Law.
• people treading winepresses: This is heavy manual labor, directly forbidden on the Sabbath. "Treading winepresses" (from gittot, גִּתּוֹת - "winepresses") points to agricultural activity for economic gain. It shows they continued the harvest process without pause for the Sabbath rest.
• on the Sabbath: B'yom HaShabbat (בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת). The core violation. The "Sabbath day" was instituted by God as a holy day of rest and worship (Exo 20:8-11), a sign of His covenant with Israel (Eze 20:12). To profane it was to directly defy God's command and disrespect His covenant.
• and bringing in heaps of grain: U'mevi'im aremot (וּמְבִאִים עֲרֵמוֹת). Another form of agricultural work involving harvesting and transporting produce. "Heaps" (עֲרֵמוֹת) suggests large quantities, pointing to serious commercial activity rather than minor personal transport.
• and loading on donkeys: U'moasim 'al haḥamorim (וְעֹמְסִים עַל הַחֲמוֹרִים). This specific action denotes active, intentional commerce and transportation of goods, using animals as beasts of burden. It clearly shows a prepared effort to conduct business.
• also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens: This enumeration highlights the variety of agricultural products being transported and traded, illustrating the scope of the desecration. "All kinds of burdens" implies general merchandise, extending beyond just produce. The original word massaot (מַשָּׂאוֹת) refers to "loads" or "burdens," underscoring the nature of the items for commercial transaction.
• which they brought into Jerusalem: The holy city itself was being defiled. Jerusalem was meant to be a city set apart, yet it was being used as a market hub on the holy day. This was a double offense: profaning the day and defiling the sacred space.
• on the Sabbath day: Reinforces the specific day of violation.
• And I warned them: Va'a'idah bam (וָאָעִ֫דָה בָהֶֽם). Nehemiah's immediate and direct intervention. "Warned" indicates a clear rebuke and instruction to cease. It's an act of authority and pastoral concern.
• on the day they sold provisions: This refers to the markets being active on the Sabbath. It’s not just individual transport but a public commercial enterprise, making the transgression even more blatant and visible within the community.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath...": This phrase vividly paints a scene of active agricultural work, directly observed by Nehemiah. It immediately highlights a covenant breach: manual labor forbidden on the Sabbath. The broad phrase "in Judah" indicates the widespread nature of the disregard for the Law, not isolated incidents.
• "...and bringing in heaps of grain and loading on donkeys, also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.": This section provides concrete examples of the commercial activity, demonstrating not only farming but also transportation of goods for sale. The use of donkeys signifies deliberate commercial carriage, and "heaps of grain" and "all kinds of burdens" underline the large scale of the enterprise. Bringing them "into Jerusalem" compounded the offense, desecrating the holy city along with the holy day.
• "And I warned them on the day they sold provisions.": This signifies Nehemiah's prompt, decisive action as a zealous leader. He confronted them at the point of sale, underscoring that his warning was directed at the actual business transaction itself, not merely the labor, highlighting the clear intent of the people to engage in trade on the Sabbath. This warning served as an immediate call to repentance and cessation of their prohibited activities.

Nehemiah 13 15 Bonus section

The desecration of the Sabbath as described in Nehemiah 13:15 was not merely an act of disorganization; it directly contradicted the explicit covenant that the people, their priests, and their leaders had affirmed with an oath (Neh 10:31). This broken promise indicates a deep seated spiritual indifference and a short-lived commitment to God's word after Nehemiah's departure. This phenomenon underscores the critical role of strong spiritual leadership, as seen in Nehemiah's return, to keep a community aligned with God's commands.

The specific mentioning of various goods like wine, grapes, and figs highlights that the breaking of the Sabbath commandment was systematic and commercially driven, impacting the economy of the region rather than isolated individual transgressions. This paints a picture of societal failure rather than merely individual missteps. It also foreshadows later prophetic condemnations by Jeremiah (Jer 17:19-27), who warned Jerusalem's inhabitants against bearing burdens and trading on the Sabbath, directly linking their adherence to this command with the city's future prosperity and preservation from destruction. Nehemiah, in essence, was trying to avert a repeat of history by addressing the same pattern of sin that previously led to exile. The Sabbath was more than a day off; it was a sacred pillar of their national and spiritual identity, a visible testament to their trust in God's provision and sovereignty.

Nehemiah 13 15 Commentary

Nehemiah 13:15 marks a pivotal moment where Nehemiah, upon his return to Jerusalem, confronts the blatant and widespread spiritual decay that had permeated the community during his absence. The violation of the Sabbath commandment, specifically through engaging in agricultural work and market commerce, was not merely a minor oversight but a fundamental rejection of God's Law and the sacred covenant solemnly agreed upon by the entire nation (Neh 10:31).

This verse showcases a return to the very sins that led to Israel's previous downfall and exile (Jer 17:21-27). The people, driven by economic convenience and a waning spiritual commitment, had prioritized profit over piety. Treading winepresses and hauling loads of produce into Jerusalem on the Sabbath demonstrated a commercial enterprise in full swing, turning the day of rest and the holy city into a common marketplace. This indicated a spiritual apathy among both the common people and the leaders, as such activity would not have been possible without communal acquiescence or neglect of enforcement.

Nehemiah's personal observation ("I saw") underscores the severity and openness of the transgression. His immediate "warning" reveals his unwavering zeal for God's holiness and justice. He understood that neglecting God's statutes, particularly those as foundational as the Sabbath, invited divine displeasure and threatened the nation's spiritual and physical well-being. The Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and His people, a reminder of His creative power and His redemptive work (Exo 20:8-11, Deu 5:12-15). To profane it was to abandon a distinct mark of their identity as God's chosen people and reject His authority. Nehemiah’s swift intervention aimed to restore honor to God's name and re-establish the covenant stipulations as paramount.

• Example for practical usage: For a community, it serves as a reminder that without consistent vigilance and dedicated leadership, even solemn covenants and good intentions can easily erode, leading to a return to practices that contradict one's faith.
• Example for practical usage: Individually, it highlights the constant spiritual battle between worldly desires (e.g., economic gain) and obedience to divine commands. True devotion requires intentional, consistent choices, especially when inconvenient.