Sabbath, in OT

The Sabbath of rest is grounded in God's work of creation. Observance of a Sabbath day is distinctive of the people of God.

The Sabbath grounded in creation itself

Genesis 2:3 See also Psalm 118:24

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.

The purpose of the Sabbath

To remember God's work in creation

Exodus 20:8–11 See also Genesis 2:2; Exodus 35:2

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work— neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

To remember the exodus

Deuteronomy 5:12–15 The idea of rest relates the concept of the Sabbath to the ultimate conquest of Canaan under David and to the return from exile. See also Genesis 8:4; 2 Samuel 7:1, 2 Samuel 7:11; Psalm 95:10–11; Hebrews 4:9; Revelation 14:13

Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work— neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox or donkey or any of your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest as you do. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

To be a sign of the relationship between Israel and God and to give refreshment

Exodus 31:17 See also Deuteronomy 5:12–14

It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’”

The Law required the Sabbath to be a holy day free from work

Leviticus 23:3 See also Exodus 34:21, Exodus 35:3; Leviticus 23:38; Isaiah 56:2, Isaiah 58:13

For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a day of sacred assembly. You must not do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD.

The Sabbath was linked with celebration of the New Moon

2 Kings 4:23 See also Isaiah 1:13; Ezekiel 46:3; Hosea 2:11; Amos 8:5

“Why would you go to him today?” he replied. “It is not a New Moon or a Sabbath.” “Everything is all right,” she said.

Abuses of the Sabbath

Exodus 16:27–28 gathering manna; Numbers 15:32 gathering wood; Nehemiah 13:15–18 doing ordinary work; Nehemiah 10:31; Amos 8:5; Jeremiah 17:21 carrying loads

Punishments for infringing the Sabbath law

The death penalty

Exodus 31:14; Numbers 15:35

Disaster for Jerusalem

Jeremiah 17:27; Ezekiel 20:13, Ezekiel 22:8, Ezekiel 22:15

Sacrifices to be offered on the Sabbath

Bread

Leviticus 24:8; 1 Chronicles 9:32

Burnt offerings

Numbers 28:9–10; 1 Chronicles 23:31; 2 Chronicles 2:4

Other offerings

Ezekiel 46:4