Charles Ellicott Commentary Nehemiah 13:17

"Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?" — Nehemiah 13:17 (ASV)

That ye do. —The nobles, in the absence of Nehemiah, had been responsible, and the sin is charged upon them. The appeal supposes their familiarity with the express prediction of Jeremiah and its literal fulfilment (Jeremiah 17:27).