15 In those days I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the sabbath , and bringing in sacks of grain and loading them on donkeys , as well as wine , grapes , figs and all kinds of loads , and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day . So I admonished them on the day they sold food . 16 Also men of Tyre were living there who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise , and sold them to the sons of Judah on the sabbath , even in Jerusalem . 17 Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, "What is this evil thing you are doing , by profaning the sabbath day ? 18 " Did not your fathers do the same , so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble ? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath ." 19 It came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath , I commanded that the doors should be shut and that they should not open them until after the sabbath . Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would enter on the sabbath day . 20 Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside e Jerusalem . 21 Then I warned them and said to them, "Why do you spend the night in front of the wall ? If you do so again , I will use force against you." From that time on they did not come on the sabbath . 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers e to sanctify the sabbath day . For this also remember me, O my God , and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness .
23 In those days I also saw that the Jews had married women from Ashdod , Ammon and Moab . 24 As for their children , half spoke in the language of Ashdod , and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah , but the language of his own people . 25 So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair , and made them swear by God , "You shall not give your daughters to their sons , nor take of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. 26 " Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things ? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God , and God made him king over all Israel ; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin . 27 "Do we then hear about you that you have committed all this great evil by acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women ?" 28 Even one of the sons of Joiada , the son of Eliashib the high priest , was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite , so I drove him away from me. 29 Remember them, O my God , because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites . 30 Thus I purified them from everything foreign and appointed duties for the priests and the Levites , each in his task , 31 and I arranged for the supply of wood at appointed times and for the first fruits . Remember me, O my God , for good .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 13:15-31
Commentary on Nehemiah 13:15-22
(Read Nehemiah 13:15-22)
The keeping holy the Lord's day forms an important object for their attention who would promote true godliness. Religion never prospers while sabbaths are trodden under foot. No wonder there was a general decay of religion, and corruption of manners among the Jews, when they forsook the sanctuary and profaned the sabbath. Those little consider what an evil they do, who profane the sabbath. We must answer for the sins others are led to commit by our example. Nehemiah charges it on them as an evil thing, for so it is, proceeding from contempt of God and our own souls. He shows that sabbath-breaking was one of the sins for which God had brought judgments upon them; and if they did not take warning, but returned to the same sins again, they had to expect further judgments. The courage, zeal, and prudence of Nehemiah in this matter, are recorded for us to do likewise; and we have reason to think, that the cure he wrought was lasting. He felt and confessed himself a sinner, who could demand nothing from God as justice, when he thus cried unto him for mercy.
Commentary on Nehemiah 13:23-31
(Read Nehemiah 13:23-31)
If either parent be ungodly, corrupt nature will incline the children to take after that one; which is a strong reason why Christians should not be unequally yoked. In the education of children, great care should be taken about the government of their tongues; that they learn not the language of Ashdod, no impious or impure talk, no corrupt communication. Nehemiah showed the evil of these marriages. Some, more obstinate than the rest, he smote, that is, ordered them to be beaten by the officers according to the law, Deuteronomy 25:2,3. Here are Nehemiah's prayers on this occasion He prays, "Remember them, O my God." Lord, convince and convert them; put them in mind of what they should be and do. The best services to the public have been forgotten by those for whom they were done, therefore Nehemiah refers himself to God, to recompense him. This may well be the summary of our petitions; we need no more to make us happy than this; Remember me, O my God, for good. We may humbly hope that the Lord will remember us and our services, although, after lives of unwearied activity and usefulness, we shall still see cause to abhor ourselves and repent in dust and ashes, and to cry out with Nehemiah, Spare me, O my God, according to the greatness of they mercy.