Nehemiah 13:21

21 But I warned them: "Why are you spending the night by the wall? If you do that again, I will lay hands on you!" At that point, they stopped coming on the Sabbath.

Nehemiah 13:21 Meaning and 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 likelihood of getting into the city, and that they were liable to be taken up and punished.

Nehemiah 13:21 In-Context

19 So when it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I gave orders that the doors should be shut. I also ordered that they shouldn't be reopened until after the Sabbath. To make sure that no load would come into the city on the Sabbath, I stationed some of my own men at the gates.

20 Once or twice the traders and sellers of all kinds of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem.

21 But I warned them: "Why are you spending the night by the wall? If you do that again, I will lay hands on you!" At that point, they stopped coming on the Sabbath.

22 I also commanded the Levites to purify themselves and to come and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy.

23 Also in those days I saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.