Nehemiah 13:20
◄  Nehemiah 13:20  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem.

New Living Translation (©2007)
The merchants and tradesmen with a variety of wares camped outside Jerusalem once or twice.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Once or twice the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem,

International Standard Version (©2012)
As a result, the merchants and sellers of all sorts of goods remained outside Jerusalem a couple of times.

NET Bible (©2006)
The traders and sellers of all kinds of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem once or twice.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Once or twice merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice.

American King James Version
So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

American Standard Version
So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

Douay-Rheims Bible
So the merchants, and they that sold all kinds of wares, stayed without Jerusalem once or twice.

Darby Bible Translation
And the dealers and sellers of all kind of ware passed the night without Jerusalem once or twice.

English Revised Version
So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

Webster's Bible Translation
So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

World English Bible
So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice.

Young's Literal Translation
And they lodge -- the merchants and sellers of all ware -- at the outside of Jerusalem, once or twice,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

13:15-22 The keeping holy the Lord's day forms an important object for their attention who would promote true godliness. Religion never prospers while sabbaths are trodden under foot. No wonder there was a general decay of religion, and corruption of manners among the Jews, when they forsook the sanctuary and profaned the sabbath. Those little consider what an evil they do, who profane the sabbath. We must answer for the sins others are led to commit by our example. Nehemiah charges it on them as an evil thing, for so it is, proceeding from contempt of God and our own souls. He shows that sabbath-breaking was one of the sins for which God had brought judgments upon them; and if they did not take warning, but returned to the same sins again, they had to expect further judgments. The courage, zeal, and prudence of Nehemiah in this matter, are recorded for us to do likewise; and we have reason to think, that the cure he wrought was lasting. He felt and confessed himself a sinner, who could demand nothing from God as justice, when he thus cried unto him for mercy.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 20. - The merchants lodged without. The merchants could not leave their wares unguarded; and the wares not being admitted into the town, they were obliged to camp out. Thus a crowd was collected about the gates, and a disturbance and excitement caused, which was unsuitable for the sabbath. To prevent this, Nehemiah threatened to arrest the merchants, whereupon the practice was given up (ver. 21).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware,.... The Tyrians particularly, Nehemiah 13:16 lodged without Jerusalem once or twice; one sabbath day or two, not being able to get into the city, such strict watch and care being taken to keep the gates shut; this they did, hoping the Jews would come out to them and buy their goods, though they were not admitted to bring them within the city.

Nehemiah 13:20 Parallel Commentaries

Nehemiah 13:20 NIV
Nehemiah 13:20 NLT
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Nehemiah 13:20 NASB
Nehemiah 13:20 KJV

Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Sabbath Restored
…19And 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. 20So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. 21Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why lodge you about the wall? if you do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.

Nehemiah 13:19 When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day.
Nehemiah 13:21 But I warned them and said, "Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will arrest you." From that time on they no longer came on the Sabbath.