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 .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 13:20-22
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.