Nehemiah 13:21 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“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

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

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}

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}

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}

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Nehemiah 13:1

"On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; {they...: Heb. there was read} {audience: Heb. ears}"

Nehemiah 13:2

"Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing."

Nehemiah 13:3

"Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude."

Nehemiah 13:4

"And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, {was} allied unto Tobiah: {having...: Heb. being set over}"

Nehemiah 13:5

"And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded {to be given} to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. {which...: Heb. the commandment of the Levites}"

Nehemiah 13:6

"But in all this {time} was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: {after...: Heb. at the end of days} {obtained...: or, I earnestly requested}"

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