"Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do {so} again, I will lay hands on…" — Nehemiah 13:21

Nehemiah 13:21 · KJV

“Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do {so} again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no {more} on the sabbath. {about: Heb. before}”

— Nehemiah 13:21

Verse 20

So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

Verse 22

And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and {that} they should come {and} keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, {concerning} this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. {greatness: or, multitude}

Nehemiah 13 — Context

And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and {some} of my servants set I at the gates, {that} there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do {so} again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no {more} on the sabbath. {about: Heb. before}

In those days also saw I Jews {that} had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, {and} of Moab: {had...: Heb. had made to dwell with them}

Cross References

Romans 13:3-4

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

Ezra 7:26

And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether {it be} unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. {to banishment: Chaldee, to rooting out}

1 Peter 2:14

Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

Nehemiah 13:15

In those days saw I in Judah {some} treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all {manner of} burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified {against them} in the day wherein they sold victuals.