Nehemiah 13:17

17 Then I contended with the nobles of Yehudah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the day of Shabbat?

Nehemiah 13:17 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 13:17

Then I contended with the nobles
The rulers of the city, the civil magistrates, sharply reproved them for their neglect of duty:

and said unto them, what evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the
sabbath day?
by suffering servile works to be done in it, and things sold on it.

Nehemiah 13:17 In-Context

15 In those days saw I in Yehudah some men treading wine-presses on the Shabbat, and bringing in sheaves, and lading donkeys [therewith]; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Yerushalayim on the day of Shabbat: and I testified [against them] in the day in which they sold victuals.

16 There lived men of Tzor also therein, who brought in fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the Shabbat to the children of Yehudah, and in Yerushalayim.

17 Then I contended with the nobles of Yehudah, and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the day of Shabbat?

18 Didn't your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this evil on us, and on this city? yet you bring more wrath on Yisra'el by profaning the Shabbat.

19 It came to pass that, when the gates of Yerushalayim began to be dark before the Shabbat, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Shabbat: and some of my servants set I over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the day of Shabbat.