20 Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kind of merchandise lodged outside Jerusalem.

21 So I warned them and said to them, “Why do you spend the night next to the wall? If you do so again, I will send you away by force.” From that time on they stopped coming on the Sabbath.

22 Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves so that they could come and, as guardians of the gates, sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to Your abundant mercy.