Nehemiah 10:31
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When the people of the land bring merchandise or any kind of grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we will not buy from them on a Sabbath or holy day. Every seventh year we will let the fields lie fallow, and will cancel every debt.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
We have in this chapter a particular account of the covenant which in the close of the foregoing chapter was resolved upon; they struck while the iron was not, and immediately put that good resolve in execution, when they were in a good frame, lest, if it should be delayed, it might be dropped. Here we have, I. The names of those that set their hands and seals to it (v. 1-27). II. An account of those who signified their consent and concurrence (Neh 10:28, Neh 10:29). III. The covenant itself, and the articles of it in general, that they would "keep God's commandments" (Neh 10:29); in particular, that they would not marry with the heathen (Neh 10:30), nor profane the sabbath, nor be rigorous with their debtors (Neh 10:31), and that they would carefully pay their church-dues, for the maintenance of the temple service, which they promise faithfully to adhere to (Neh 10:32-39).
Open source ↗10:31 Ceasing trade on the Sabbath was necessary for covenant faithfulness (cp. 13:15-22; see Exod 16:29; 20:8-11; 31:15; Num 15:32-36; Amos 8:5). • Every seventh year: See Exod 23:10-11; Lev 25:2-7; Deut 15:1-3.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a day of sacred assembly. You must not do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.
but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates.
On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly, and you must not do any regular work. This is to be a permanent statute wherever you live for the generations to come.
This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you shall humble yourselves and not do any work—whether the native or the foreigner who resides among you—
On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly, and another on the seventh day. You must not do any work on those days, except to prepare the meals—that is all you may do.
So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD through Jeremiah.
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.