Nehemiah 13:19-21

GOD’S WORD Translation

¹⁹ Before the day of rest—a holy day, when the gates of Jerusalem were cleared of traffic, I ordered the doors to be shut and not to be reopened until after the day of rest. I stationed some of my men by the gates to make sure that no loads could be brought in on the day of rest. ²⁰ Once or twice merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem. ²¹ I warned them. “Why are you spending the night in front of the wall?” I asked them. “If you do it again, I’ll arrest you.” After that, they no longer came on the day of rest—a holy day.