Nehemiah 10:31
And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt. And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
Nehemiah 10:31 belongs to the law that was explained to the people, and it records the pledge they made before the day of fasting ended. That pledge expressed their determination to return to the Lord and to cease desecrating the Sabbath. They bound themselves by solemn covenant not to transgress the Sabbath law.
By that covenant they committed themselves to honor the Sabbath and the holy days by refusing to buy wares or any food from the people of the land on those days. Those sellers were heathen vendors coming into Jerusalem on the Sabbath to sell. The same pledge also bound them to leave the land uncultivated in the seventh year and to remit the exaction of every debt, canceling debts. At this time Nehemiah did not use his authority to keep the traders out, as he did at a later date. Instead he sought to save the people from yielding to temptation by stopping their purchases, hoping this would discourage the traders and put an end to the traffic.