13:19 When the evening shadows 2 began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered 3 the doors to be closed. I further directed that they were not to be opened until after the Sabbath. I positioned 4 some of my young men at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day. 13:20 The traders and sellers of all kinds of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem once or twice. 13:21 But I warned them and said, 5 “Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you repeat this, I will forcibly remove you!” 6 From that time on they did not show up on the Sabbath. 7 13:22 Then I directed the Levites to purify themselves and come and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.
For this please remember me, O my God, and have pity on me in keeping with your great love.
1 tn On the usage of this Hebrew word see HALOT 478-79 s.v. כְּלִי.
2 tn Heb “the gates of Jerusalem grew dark.”
3 tn Heb “said” (so also in v. 22).
4 tn Heb “caused to stand.”
5 tn The Hebrew text includes the words “to them,” but they have been excluded from the translation for stylistic reasons.
6 tn Heb “I will send a hand on you.”
7 sn This statement contains a great deal of restrained humor. The author clearly takes pleasure in the effectiveness of the measures that he had enacted.