Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 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.
21. Why lodge ye about the wall? ] R.V. marg. ‘Heb. before ’, LXX. , Vulg. ‘ex adverso.’ Nehemiah, in his capacity of governor, was able to put his foot down upon this evasion of his law. He threatened the traders that, if they hung about on the outskirts of the walls on the Sabbath, he would treat them as public enemies.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The lodging of the merchants with their merchandise just outside Jerusalem during the Sabbath, marked their impatience for the moment when they might bring their wares in. This was thought by Nehemiah to be unseemly, and to have an irreligious tendency.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 21. I will lay hands on you] I will imprison every man of you. This had the desired effect; they came no more.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I will lay hands on you; I will punish you, and seize your goods. For this was a temptation to covetous or needy Jews, that lived in or near the city, to steal opportunities of buying their commodities, which then they might do with more advantage.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then I testified against them,…. Against their continuance there, and threatened them, and called heaven and earth to witness what he would do to them, if they did not depart:
why lodge ye about the wall? of the city, waiting an opportunity to get in, and tempting the Jews to come out and buy their ware:
if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you; beat them, or slay them, at least imprison them:
from that time forth came they no more on the sabbath; finding there was no likelihood of getting into the city, and that they were liable to be taken up and punished.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
21. I will lay hands on you Proceed to violent measures, and arrest and treat you as criminals.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Then I testified against them, and said to them, “Why do you lodge about the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on (arrest) you .” From that time forth they came no more on the sabbath.’
And the reason that they only did it once or twice was because Nehemiah warned them that if they appeared again and encamped outside the city on the Sabbath they would be arrested. His concern may have been that they were still profaning the Sabbath, even though not in Jerusalem, or it may have been because he considered that their proximity to the holy city on the Sabbath day marred the holiness of the city on that day, in the same way as Tobiah’s continued presence had marred the holiness of the Temple.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Neh 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.
Ver. 21. Why lodge ye about the wall? ] His care was also lest God should be dishonoured in the suburbs. A little fire warms but a little way off, when a great one casteth about its heat far and near. He feared also lest those within the walls, seeing them, might be tempted to wish themselves with them; as when Sulla, the Roman, lay before the walls of Athens, the citizens’ minds were with him, though their bodies were kept from him.
I will lay hands on you
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
lodge. See note on Neh 4:22,
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I testified: Neh 13:15
about the wall: Heb. before the wall
I will lay: Ezr 7:26, Rom 13:3, Rom 13:4, 1Pe 2:14
Reciprocal: Deu 5:14 – thy stranger Joh 11:53 – from