Nehemiah 13:15-28

Nehemiah 13:15-28

[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.  [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.  [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?  [18] Did  not your fathers  not our God  bring  all this evil  upon us, and upon this city?  yet ye bring  wrath  upon Israel  by profaning  the sabbath.  [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.  [20] So the merchants  and sellers  of all kind of ware  lodged  without  Jerusalem  once  or twice.  [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.  [22] 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.  [23] In those days  also saw  I Jews  that had married  wives  of Ashdod,  of Ammon,  and of Moab:  [24] And their children  spake  half  in the speech of Ashdod,  and could  not speak  in the Jews' language,  but according to the language  of each  [25] And I contended  with them, and cursed  them, and smote  of them, and plucked off their hair,  and made them swear  by God,  saying, Ye shall not give  your daughters  unto their sons,  nor take  their daughters  unto your sons,  or for yourselves. [26] Did not Solomon  king  of Israel  sin  by these things? yet among many  nations  was there no king  like him, who was beloved  of his God,  made  him king  over all Israel:  nevertheless even him  did outlandish  women  cause to sin.  [27] Shall we then hearken  unto you to do  all this great  evil,  to transgress  against our God  in marrying  strange  wives?  [28] And one of the sons  of Joiada,  the son  of Eliashib  the high  priest,  was son in law  to Sanballat  the Horonite:  therefore I chased