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.
20
So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged outside of Yerushalayim once or twice.
21
Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why lodge you about the wall? if you do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the Shabbat.
22
I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the day of Shabbat. Remember to me, my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your lovingkindness.
23
In those days also saw I the Yehudim who had married women of Ashdod, of `Ammon, [and] of Mo'av:
24
and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Yehudim' language, but according to the language of each people.
25
I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, [saying], You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.
26
Did not Shlomo king of Yisra'el sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Yisra'el: nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin.
27
Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?
28
One of the sons of Yoiada, the son of Elyashiv the Kohen Gadol, was son-in-law to Sanvallat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.