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.
During that time, I saw people in Judah working on the Sabbath day - they were pressing grapes to make wine, gathering grain bundles, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of goods. They were bringing these things into Jerusalem to sell on the Sabbath. I spoke out against them on the day they were selling food.
Nehemiah observed people working and selling goods on the Sabbath, which was supposed to be a day of rest, and he confronted them about breaking this holy day.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred after the Jewish people had returned from exile in Babylon and were rebuilding their community in Jerusalem. The Sabbath was a sacred day of rest commanded by God, but the people had begun ignoring this law to pursue commercial activities. Nehemiah, as governor, was responsible for ensuring the people followed God's laws and maintained their covenant relationship with Him.
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