Nehemiah 13:15 - Exposition

In those days . A note of time even vaguer than that of Nehemiah 12:44 and Nehemiah 13:1 , but pointing certainly to a date later than Nehemiah's return from the Persian court . Saw I some treading wine-presses on the sabbath . On the treading of grapes in the wine-press, as the first step towards the production of wine, see Job 24:11 ; Isaiah 63:2 , Isaiah 63:3 , etc. The performance of this work on the sabbath was a flagrant breach of the fourth commandment. Bringing in sheaves and lading asses . Scarcely "sheaves in our sense of the word, since corn was not stored in sheaves. Rather, "bringing .grain and loading it upon asses." As also . Rather, "and even." It might be pleaded that the transport of grain was a necessity; but there could be no absolute need of a supply of wine, grapes, or figs . I testified against them in the day in which they sold victuals . Rather, "I testified against them in respect of the day on which they sold provisions."