The Gates Shut for Sabbath

15In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys—and also wine, grapes, figs, and every kind of load—and bringing them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I testified against them on the day they sold food.

16Also Tyrians lived in it, bringing in fish and every kind of merchandise, and selling them on the Sabbath to the sons of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

17So I contended with the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?”

18Did not your fathers do this, and our God brought all this evil on us and on this city? Yet you are adding wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath.

19When the gates of Jerusalem began to grow dark before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors shut and commanded that they not be opened until after the Sabbath. I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would be brought in on the Sabbath day.

20Then the merchants and sellers of every kind of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem once or twice.

21So I warned them and said to them, “Why are you spending the night in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath.

22And I told the Levites that they should purify themselves and come to guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.