Nehemiah 13:16 - Some men of Tyre also lived there, who brought in fish and all kinds of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
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What does "Nehemiah 13:16" mean?
Nehemiah 13:16 describes a situation where merchants from Tyre (a Phoenician city known for trade) were conducting business in Jerusalem on the Sabbath, selling fish and other goods to the Jewish people. This was a violation of the Sabbath laws, which prohibited working and conducting business on the day of rest.
Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
"Some men of Tyre also lived there": This indicates that there was a foreign population residing in Jerusalem, specifically people from the city of Tyre. They likely came to Jerusalem for trade opportunities.
"who brought in fish and all kinds of wares": The Tyrians were merchants who transported goods, including fish and various other merchandise, into the city for sale.
"and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem": The crucial part of the verse. The Tyrians were selling their goods on the Sabbath, which was a holy day for the Jewish people. This was forbidden by Jewish law (Torah). The phrase "children of Judah" and "in Jerusalem" emphasize that this was happening within the Jewish community and in their holy city.
Significance:
Violation of Sabbath Law: The core issue is the breaking of the Sabbath commandment, one of the Ten Commandments. This was a serious offense in Jewish law and tradition.
Foreign Influence: The presence and activities of foreign merchants highlight the challenge of maintaining religious purity and adherence to Jewish law in the face of outside influence.
Nehemiah's Concern: This verse sets the stage for Nehemiah's righteous anger and his efforts to enforce the Sabbath laws, as described in the following verses. He saw this as a spiritual and moral failing that threatened the covenant relationship between God and the Jewish people.
Economic temptations: It suggests that people were being tempted by their own desires to aquire goods, and thus willing to do so even though it was prohibited by Jewish law to do so.
In essence, Nehemiah 13:16 depicts a scene of religious transgression where foreign merchants were taking advantage of the demand for goods in Jerusalem, disregarding the sanctity of the Sabbath and leading the Jewish people into sin. It demonstrates the challenges of maintaining religious integrity in a cosmopolitan environment.
Nehemiah 13:16 - Some men of Tyre also lived there, who brought in fish and all kinds of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
What does "Nehemiah 13:16" mean?
Nehemiah 13:16 describes a situation where merchants from Tyre (a Phoenician city known for trade) were conducting business in Jerusalem on the Sabbath, selling fish and other goods to the Jewish people. This was a violation of the Sabbath laws, which prohibited working and conducting business on the day of rest.
Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
"Some men of Tyre also lived there": This indicates that there was a foreign population residing in Jerusalem, specifically people from the city of Tyre. They likely came to Jerusalem for trade opportunities.
"who brought in fish and all kinds of wares": The Tyrians were merchants who transported goods, including fish and various other merchandise, into the city for sale.
"and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem": The crucial part of the verse. The Tyrians were selling their goods on the Sabbath, which was a holy day for the Jewish people. This was forbidden by Jewish law (Torah). The phrase "children of Judah" and "in Jerusalem" emphasize that this was happening within the Jewish community and in their holy city.
Significance:
Violation of Sabbath Law: The core issue is the breaking of the Sabbath commandment, one of the Ten Commandments. This was a serious offense in Jewish law and tradition.
Foreign Influence: The presence and activities of foreign merchants highlight the challenge of maintaining religious purity and adherence to Jewish law in the face of outside influence.
Nehemiah's Concern: This verse sets the stage for Nehemiah's righteous anger and his efforts to enforce the Sabbath laws, as described in the following verses. He saw this as a spiritual and moral failing that threatened the covenant relationship between God and the Jewish people.
Economic temptations: It suggests that people were being tempted by their own desires to aquire goods, and thus willing to do so even though it was prohibited by Jewish law to do so.
In essence, Nehemiah 13:16 depicts a scene of religious transgression where foreign merchants were taking advantage of the demand for goods in Jerusalem, disregarding the sanctity of the Sabbath and leading the Jewish people into sin. It demonstrates the challenges of maintaining religious integrity in a cosmopolitan environment.