Nehemiah 13:18

Did not your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling His wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Nehemiah confronts the nobles of Judah as he enforces Sabbath restoration following the return from exile.

The words — הֲלֹא (ha/Lo') renders literally as "is it not" or "did they not," and אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם (a.Vo.tei./Khem) means "your ancestors."

The thread — The link between Sabbath violation and national disaster runs through Jeremiah 17:21, while Leviticus 26:18 and Leviticus 26:28 outline the covenant penalty for repeated disobedience.

Why it lands — The text states that profaning the Sabbath rekindles divine wrath and brings disaster upon the people and city. It demands immediate compliance with Sabbath boundaries to halt further judgment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 17:21 This is what the LORD says: Take heed for yourselves; do not carry a load or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.
Leviticus 26:18 And if after all this you will not obey Me, I will proceed to punish you sevenfold for your sins.
Leviticus 26:28 then I will walk in fury against you, and I, even I, will punish you sevenfold for your sins.
Numbers 32:14 Now behold, you, a brood of sinners, have risen up in place of your fathers to further stoke the burning anger of the LORD against Israel.
Joshua 22:17 Was not the sin of Peor enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day? It even brought a plague upon the congregation of the LORD.
Ezra 9:13 After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant as this),
Jeremiah 17:27 But if you do not listen to Me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying a load while entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in its gates to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.’”
Jeremiah 44:9 Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers and of the kings of Judah and their wives, as well as the wickedness that you and your wives committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
Ezekiel 23:8 She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt, when men slept with her in her youth, caressed her virgin bosom, and poured out their lust upon her.
Ezekiel 23:26 They will strip off your clothes and take your fine jewelry.