Nehemiah 13:22

“And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, etc.] From all ceremonial uncleanness, that they might be fit in a ceremonial sense to perform the duties of the office on the sabbath day: and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day; not the gates of the city, his servants were placed there, nor was this the work of the Levites, and much less did this require a particular purification to fit for it; but the gates of the temple, that no impure person might enter there; and on that day it required the greater diligence, because of the number of people that came to worship: remember me, O my God, concerning this also; with respect to his care to…”

“I commanded the Levites - At first Nehemiah had employed his own retinue Nehemiah 13:19 in the work of keeping the gates. He now assigned the duty to the Levites, as one which properly belonged to them, since the object of the regulation was the due observance of the Sabbath. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Cleanse - Because the work they now were set upon, though common in its nature, yet was holy in design of it, and had respect unto the sabbath: and, because the day in which they were to do this was the sabbath - day, for the observation whereof they were obliged to purify themselves. Gates - The gates of the city; not daring to trust the common porters, he commits the charge of them upon the sabbath - days, to the Levites, to whom the care of sanctifying the sabbath did properly belong. Mercy - Whereby he intimates, that though he mentioned his good - works, as things wherewith God was well - pleased, and which he had promised to reward, yet he neither did, nor durst trust to their merit,…”

“13:22 Have compassion on me: Nehemiah’s prayer implies that he felt the pressure of this unpopular decision. He knew that God’s unfailing love, not his own popularity, would sustain him.”

“I commanded: Neh 7:64, Neh 7:65, Neh 12:30; Kg2 23:4; Ch1 15:12-14; Ch2 29:4, Ch2 29:5, Ch2 29:24, Ch2 29:27, Ch2 29:30; Isa 49:23 cleanse: Neh 12:10 sanctify: Deu 5:12 Remember: Neh 13:14, Neh 13:31, Neh 5:19; Psa 132:1-5; Isa 38:3; Co2 1:12; Ti2 4:7, Ti2 4:8 spare me: Psa 25:6, Psa 25:7, Psa 51:1, Psa 130:3, Psa 130:4, Psa 130:7, Psa 143:1, Psa 143:2 greatness: or, multitude, Psa 5:7; Isa 55:7 Nehemiah 13:23”