Sabbath-breaking suppressed.
A promise to observe the sabbath was one of the articles of the solemn covenant recorded in Nehemiah 10:1-39. We read here how it was violated by some of the people, and how Nehemiah put a stop to their practices.
I. THE PROFANATION OF THE SABBATH WHICH PREVAILED.
1. Among country Jews (verse 15). Nehemiah, visiting the country, saw the people labouring as on other days, and brining their produce to Jerusalem for sale. That they actually sold it on the sabbath does not appear. The concluding sentence of verse 15 seems to imply that they did not (see Bertheau in loc.). But they disobeyed the law by working themselves, and compelling their beasts of burden to work.
2. Among residents at Jerusalem. Tyrians dwelt there' who traded in fish and other articles, and they carried on their business on the sabbath as on other days, the Jews encouraging the forbidden traffic by their purchases. Both violated the law; for the foreigner living amongst the Israelites was expressly named in it (Exodus 20:10):
II. THE MEASURES BY WHICH NEHEMIAH PUT AN END TO IT.
1. He rebuked offenders. He visited the market when the country people were selling their produce, and rebuked them (verse 15). He remonstrated with the nobles, who ought to have prevented the profanation (verses 17, 18), charging them with doing what was done through their connivance, reminding them of the evil which such sins had brought heretofore on the nation, and warning them that renewed transgression was likely to bring down fresh punishment. He probably had Jeremiah 17:21-27 in his mind.
2. He had the gates kept closed during the whole of the sabbath, placing some of his own servants as guards. Not to prevent all ingress and egress, but "that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day" (Jeremiah 17:19).
3. He threatened with punishment the dealers who persisted in lodging near the wall during the sabbath: and thus brought the practice to an end. While it lasted the Jews would be tempted to make purchases on the sabbath; and if not, yet the thing was unseemly.
4. He appointed Levites as permanent guards of the gates on the sabbath, bidding them purify themselves as for a holy service before taking their posts.
III. His SATISFACTION WITH HIS WORK. Addressing himself to God as on former occasions (see on Jeremiah 17:14, and Nehemiah 5:19), praying as before that he would remember him and his work; but more humbly than before appealing' to the Divine mercy. In conclusion—
1. To promote the due observance of the sabbath is a work both of piety, benevolence, and patriotism.
2. Those who have the right and the power to suppress evil practices, yet permit them, are partakers of their guilt (Jeremiah 17:17).
3. The punishment of others for sins should deter us from committing them (Jeremiah 17:18). If, instead of this, we follow the example of sinners, we must share their doom.