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Nehemiah 13:19

Jerusalem
Rest and sabbath

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

18 Did not your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling His wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”

When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem, just before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day.

20 Once or twice, the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem,

21 but I warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they did not return on the Sabbath.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem, just before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day.
KJV
And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.
WEB
It came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I set some of my servants over the gates, so that no burden should be brought in on the Sabbath day.
ASV
And it came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.
DARBY
And it came to pass, that when it began to be dark in the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut; and I commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath. And I set [some] of my servants at the gates, so that no burden should be brought in on the sabbath day.
BLB
And it came to pass when the gates of Jerusalem were becoming dark before the face of the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and I said that they shall not open them until after the Sabbath. And [some] from my servants I made stand at the gates, [that] there should not be brought [in] loads carried on the day of the Sabbath.
ÅB
Så snart det ble mørkt i Jerusalems porter før sabbaten, befalte jeg at dørene skulle lukkes, og at de ikke skulle åpnes igjen før etter sabbaten. Jeg satte noen av mine tjenere på vakt ved portene og sa: Det skal ingen varer føres inn på sabbatsdagen.
OTB
Da kveldsskyggene falt på Jerusalems porter før sabbaten, beordret jeg at dørene skulle lukkes og ikke åpnes før etter sabbaten. Jeg plasserte noen av mine egne menn ved portene slik at ingen last kunne bringes inn på sabbatsdagen.
B1930
Så snart det blev mørkt i Jerusalems porter før sabbaten, bød jeg at dørene skulde lukkes, og at de ikke skulde åpnes igjen før efter sabbaten. Jeg satte nogen av mine tjenere på vakt ved portene og sa: Det skal ingen varer føres inn på sabbatsdagen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Leviticus 23:32

    It will be a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you shall humble yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to keep your Sabbath.”

    Read in context

  • Exodus 31:14–17

    Keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Anyone who profanes it must surely be put to death. Whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from among his people.

    Read in context

  • Jeremiah 17:19–22

    This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and stand at the gate of the people, through which the kings of Judah go in and out; and stand at all the other gates of Jerusalem.

    Read in context