Nehemiah 13:15

15 In those days I saw in Juda treading wine-presses on the sabbath, and carrying sheaves, and loading asses with both wine, and grapes, and figs, and every burden, and bringing them into Jerusalem on the sabbath-day:

Nehemiah 13:15 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 13:15

In those days saw I in Judah some treading winepresses on the
sabbath
Which was not a work of necessity, and so did not drive away the sabbath, as the Jews express themselves, but might have been deferred to another day:

and bringing in sheaves;
of wheat, it being the time of wheat harvest:

and lading asses;
with goods to be carried from place to place, and sold on that day; this was contrary to the express law, for the ass was to rest, ( Deuteronomy 5:14 ) ,

as also wine, grapes, and figs:
it being the time of ingathering the fruits of the earth:

and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the
sabbath day;
besides those borne on asses, others were carried on men's shoulders; this was contrary to the law of the sabbath, which required that both men and beasts should have rest:

and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals;
that is, the sabbath day; and if it was not lawful to sell food, then not anything else; so far from it, that according to the Jewish canons {f}, such that were in partnership might not discourse together of what they should sell or buy on the morrow, the day after the sabbath; and so far from gathering and carrying grapes and figs, that a man might not go into his gardens and fields to see what were wanting, or how the fruits were: now Nehemiah admonished the Jews of these evils they committed, and testified against them as breakers of the law, and called heaven and earth to testify against them, should they go on to violate it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 Maimon. Hilchot Sabbat, c. 24. sect. 1, 2.

Nehemiah 13:15 In-Context

13 to the charge of Selemia the priest, and Sadoc the scribe, and Phadaea of the Levites: and next to them Anan the son of Zacchur, son of Matthanias; for they were accounted faithful: their office to distribute to their brethren.

14 Remember me, O God, in this, and let not my kindness be forgotten which I have wrought in the house of the Lord God.

15 In those days I saw in Juda treading wine-presses on the sabbath, and carrying sheaves, and loading asses with both wine, and grapes, and figs, and every burden, and bringing them into Jerusalem on the sabbath-day:

16 and I testified in the day of their sale. Also their dwelt in it bringing fish, and selling every merchandise to the children of Juda and in Jerusalem on the sabbath.

17 And I strove with the free children of Juda, and said to them, What this evil thing which ye do, and profane the sabbath-day?