Nehemiah 13:12-21

Ne 13:12

Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

Then once the temple was cleansed the people of Judah began to bring the tithes into the storehouse for the service of the temple.  They now saw that Nehemiah had made specific reforms and the people would be assured that their tithes would be put to good use and not used in an evil manner for profit or gain by anyone.

Ne 13:13

And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

Then Nehemiah appointed new treasurers over the treasury since the ones in place were either dead or they were just unfaithful in their office.  Shelemiah and Zadok who were priests and scribes would have had good understanding of the law and would have known how to handle and distribute the tithes which came in.  These men named were trustworthy and Nehemiah knew they would do an honest job.  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; (1 Timothy 1:12)  The Apostle Paul thanked the Lord Jesus Christ that he was put into the ministry and that he was counted faithful in his entire ministry.  That is what is required of every Christian.  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2)

Ne 13:14

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.

Then Nehemiah prays a prayer of asking God to remember him for his good deeds and to allow them to be sustained.  Nehemiah was not praying because he wanted credit for what he was doing but he was asking the LORD to let those reforms that he made stand and that the temple would remain undefiled and the people who were in charge would remain faithful to their duties and to God under the law.

Ne 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.

Another of the reforms which Nehemiah made was the fact that the people were neglecting the Sabbath and were working seven days a week.  They were not only working in agriculture but were bringing their goods into Jerusalem to set up shop and sell them on the Sabbath.  Then Nehemiah saw these things and testified against them for violating the law of the Sabbath.  The word “testified” carries with it the meaning of “protested, admonished, or give warning.”  They were violating the fourth commandment and by doing that they could once again incur the judgment of God.

⁸ Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰ But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ¹¹ For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:8-11)

Ne 13:16

There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

Not only were the Jews violating the Sabbath, there were also heathens coming into the city from Tyre who were also selling on the Sabbath to the Jews.  The law of the Sabbath was not required to be obeyed by those of Tyre but the fact remained that by letting them in the city, they were tempting the Jews to break the Sabbath.  A similar situation exists in Christianity today, how many are tempted to miss church because of some sporting event that is taking place at the same time church is or some other event which puts itself in competition with the Lord’s Day which is Sunday.  Tyre was a city of the Phoenicians and is located in modern Lebanon.

Ne 13:17

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

Then Nehemiah had contended with the nobles who would have been the chief men and the rulers.  Contended carries with it the meaning of “rebuke, chide, or argued.”  Instead of them keeping the Sabbath which was required under the law, they allowed not only their own people to sell on the Sabbath but they also allowed vendors from the heathen nations to come into Jerusalem and sell.

Ne 13:18

Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

Then Nehemiah reminds these nobles that the desecration of the Sabbath was one of the reasons that God brought upon them the judgment of Babylon sacking the city and removing the people into a heathen land for seventy years.  Then he tells them that since they did not learn from history that their actions will lead to more of God’s wrath upon Israel if they continued to go down the same path their father’s did.  The judgment of God would not only fall upon the people but upon the city itself because the LORD could raise another empire to conquer them.  At this time the Greek empire was becoming very strong.

Ne 13:19

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.

Then Nehemiah as Governor gave orders to close the gate when the night started to fall the day before the Sabbath and they would remain shut until the Sabbath was over.  To ensure that his orders were carried out he set some of his servants by all the gates.  These may have been the porters who had charge of the gates.  So if the merchants wanted to sell in Jerusalem, they would have to wait until the Sabbath was over.

Ne 13:20

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

This meant that those from Tyre would have to wait outside the walls of Jerusalem until the Sabbath was over and once the gates were opened, then they would be allowed in.  Remember verse 16 where those from Tyre brought fish?  What do you think those fish would smell like after being in the hot sun for a day.  The once or twice could refer to the fact that they would stay two nights outside the gates which would be the night before the Sabbath and the night of the Sabbath itself.  I doubt it is speaking about two Sabbaths because the vendors would not wait a full week to sell their wares in Jerusalem.  Some of the vendors probably set up shop just outside the walls so they could conduct business and make quick entry into the city when the gates were opened.

Ne 13:21

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.