Some Treading Wine Presses on the Sabbath - Nehemiah 13:15

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof”, and in chapter thirteen and verse fifteen of Nehemiah, Nehemiah shared how he, “saw in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath” where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses;” Nehemiah began with the words, “in those days” which means “within the sunrises to sunsets Nehemiah was back in Jerusalem” “saw I in Judah” or “observed, noticed and discerned I, Nehemiah, within Judah whose name means praised and was the kingdom comprised of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin which occupied the southern part of Canaan after the nation split upon the death of Solomon” “some treading wine presses” which means “a few people who were marching and bending their foot within the wine vats used for holding grapes or fruit of the vine” “on the sabbath”or “upon the intermission and rest day”, “and bringing in sheaves” which means “and carrying in heaps and piles of grain”, “and lading asses” or “and donkeys loaded with and carrying grain”. Nehemiah shared how he observed a few people stomping their feet upon grapes within wine vats and others carrying in grain upon donkeys on the “Sabbath” day.

The verse continues, “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.” Nehemiah added the words, “as also wine” or “even so and indeed fruit of the vines such as”, “grapes” which means “fruit known as grapes”, “and figs” or “and fruit from fig trees”, “and all manner of burdens” which means “and every kind and type pertaining to load bearing, lifting and borne porterage”, “which they brought into Jerusalem” or “that they, the people, carried and lead in to the city of Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and was the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split” “on the sabbath day” which means “upon the sunset to sunrise of intermission and rest”: “and I testified against them” or “and I, Nehemiah, bore witness in opposition to them, the people who were bringing in the wine, grapes, figs and all manner of burdens” “in the day wherein they sold victuals” which means “within the sunrise to sunset in which they, the people who carried in the wares, merchandized and offered for sell game, venison or food”. Nehemiah shared how the people who were carrying “fruit of the vine, grapes, figs and borne porterage” into the city of “Jerusalem” on the “Sabbath” or rest day, and he bore witness in opposition to those who were selling those items. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we discover how Nehemiah observed within “Judah” people who were stomping on grapes in wine vats to produce grape juice on the day of rest, and they were carrying in grain as well as putting loads upon donkeys which were filled with “wine, grapes, figs and all types of wares”. These people wanted to sell the items to the people in the cities, and they were buying them on the day of rest. Nehemiah addressed them for this behavior, and he brought witness in opposition to them upon the sunrise to sunset that they were selling meat and food. These people were in violation to the law of God, (See Exodus 20:8-11) and Nehemiah would bring correction to them in this area. God wants to have a personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead three days afterward. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us a desire to observe His law and ways in every area of our life. 

Next time Nehemiah shares how, “there dwelt men of Tyre also therein”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".