But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
But if you refuse to listen to me and won't keep the Sabbath day holy—if you keep carrying loads and doing business through Jerusalem's gates on the Sabbath—then I will set fire to those very gates. The fire will spread to Jerusalem's palaces and cannot be put out.
God is warning that if the people continue to ignore the Sabbath and treat it like any other workday, He will bring devastating judgment on Jerusalem.
📚 Historical Context
This warning came through the prophet Jeremiah during the final years before Jerusalem's destruction in 586 BC. The people of Judah had been repeatedly ignoring God's commands, including the Sabbath rest that was central to their covenant relationship with Him. Commercial activity on the Sabbath showed their disregard for God's authority and their prioritization of profit over worship.
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