Nehemiah 13:19

Arabic 2016 (الكِتاب المُقَدَّس: التَّرْجَمَةُ العَرَبِيَّةُ المُبَسَّطَةُ)

وَعِنْدَمَا بَدَأ الظَّلَامُ يَحِلُّ عِنْدَ بَوَّابَاتِ القُدْسِ قُبَيلَ حُلُولِ السَّبْتِ، أمَرْتُ بِإغلَاقِ البَوَّابَاتِ وَعَدَمِ فَتْحِهَا حَتَّى يَنْتَهِيَ السَّبْتُ. وَأوقَفْتُ بَعْضَ رِجَالِي عِنْدَ البَوَّابَاتِ حَتَّى لَا تَدْخُلَ أيَّةُ حُمُولَةٍ إلَى المَدِينَةِ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ.

What Does This Mean?

Nehemiah tells us that he ordered the gates of Jerusalem to be closed as the Sabbath approached and to stay closed until after the Sabbath. He also placed guards at the gates to prevent any goods from being brought in on the Sabbath. This shows Nehemiah's dedication to keeping the Sabbath holy.

Explained for Children

Imagine your house as a big castle. Nehemiah, like a castle's king, made sure that once it was almost time for rest day, he closed the big doors of the castle and told his helpers to keep them closed until the next day. This was to make sure no one could bring in any work things while everyone was supposed to rest and pray.

Historical Background

Nehemiah was a Jewish leader who lived in the 5th century BCE and served as a cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes. He wrote the book of Nehemiah, which is part of the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament. The audience of this book includes the Jews who returned from exile and the wider community of believers.

Living It Out Today

Today, we can apply this by respecting set times of rest and reflection, like Sabbath or Sunday for Christians. For example, if your workplace asks you to check emails or do tasks on your day off, consider setting clear boundaries to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Topics

• Sabbath
• Rest
• Boundaries
• Leadership
• Community
• Holy Days

Related Verses

• Exodus 20:8-11
• Exodus 31:13-17
• Isaiah 58:13-14
• Mark 2:27-28
• Hebrews 4:9-11

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Nehemiah order the gates to be closed before the Sabbath?

Nehemiah wanted to ensure that no work-related activities would interfere with the observance of the Sabbath, a day of rest and worship for the Jews.

What does it mean to 'keep the Sabbath holy'?

Keeping the Sabbath holy means treating it as a special day dedicated to rest and worship, avoiding work and focusing on spiritual activities and family.

How can we set boundaries in our daily lives like Nehemiah did?

We can set boundaries by clearly communicating our needs for rest and reflection, and by establishing rules that help us maintain these times without interruptions.

What can we learn from Nehemiah's leadership in this verse?

From Nehemiah, we can learn the importance of setting clear guidelines and being consistent in enforcing them to maintain a community's values and traditions.