נחמיה, פרק י״ג, פסוק ט״ו

During a period when Nehemiah was away from Jerusalem, a severe spiritual decline took hold of the community. This deterioration was most visible in how the Sabbath was treated, as the holy day was transformed into an ordinary weekday filled with commerce and manual labor [מלבי״ם].

Nehemiah witnesses a gradual breakdown in Sabbath observance, beginning with the most severe violations and extending to lighter offenses. First, he observes people actively treading winepresses, crushing grapes in designated vessels to produce wine [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון]. This specific act is considered an exceptionally grave offense, one that carries the severe penalty of stoning [מלבי״ם, רלב״ג].

Beyond the winepresses, the people were also gathering large heaps of grain and sheaves [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. They took these agricultural supplies, along with wine and various fruits, and loaded them heavily onto donkeys [מצודת ציון]. Even if these animals had been loaded the day before on Friday, the very act of guiding them to transport burdens into homes on the Sabbath directly violates the commandment requiring animals to rest [רלב״ג, מלבי״ם].

All of these goods were being carried directly into Jerusalem. Confronted with these blatant violations, Nehemiah takes immediate action, firmly warning and admonishing the people not to repeat their behavior [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He issues this stern warning precisely on the day they were selling their provisions. The goods being sold were not hunted animals, but rather everyday food and supplies. Nehemiah specifically chose to confront the public on this day because the people had turned the Sabbath into their regular market day, ensuring that the entire community was gathered together to hear his rebuke [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד].