ירמיהו, פרק י״ז, פסוק כ״א

The holiness of the Sabbath is protected through strict boundaries, particularly concerning commerce and physical labor. God issues a heavy warning to the people, focusing directly on the prohibition of carrying loads and engaging in trade on the day of rest.

This caution is presented as a matter of life and death. The people are urged to be extremely careful, because their very survival depends on keeping this command [מצודת דוד]. Violating the Sabbath is a severe offense that carries the ultimate punishments of death and spiritual cutoff [מלבי״ם].

To enforce this, an absolute ban is placed on carrying loads from outside the city and bringing them through the gates into Jerusalem. This specific instruction addresses a common practice of the era. At the time, people had a habit of transporting goods from the surrounding areas into the city specifically to sell them on the Sabbath [מלבי״ם]. Halting this flow of merchandise ensures the day remains completely separate from everyday business.