Nehemiah 13:19-21

Evangelical Heritage Version

¹⁹ As it began to grow dark within the gates of Jerusalem before the beginning of the Sabbath, I gave orders to close the doors and not to open them until after the Sabbath. I also stationed some of my servants at the gates to ensure that no load would come in on the Sabbath day. ²⁰ Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of merchandise spent the night outside of Jerusalem. ²¹ However, I warned them and said to them, “Why are you spending the night next to the wall? If you do this again, I will use force against you.” From that time onward they did not come on the Sabbath.