The Sabbath of the Old Testament

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 12
Ex. 20:88Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8).—Given as a commandment among the ten; this however associated with the rest of creation, as the whole system was.
Ex. 34:2121Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest. (Exodus 34:21).—Given as part of the covenant founded on supremacy and intercession after breach of the law-covenant in connection with their portion in the land by that covenant.
Lev. 19:3, 303Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:3)
30Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:30).—The comeliness of their association one with another and with God in the land—all that became them as a nation liable to sin, but consecrated to God there.
Lev. 23:33Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings. (Leviticus 23:3).—Prescribed as the characteristic beginning and sum of all the feasts in which they were called to appear before the Lord in pledge of rest.
Num. 15:3232And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. (Numbers 15:32).—Expressed as an obligation during their journey which this book traces the principle of in the wilderness.
Deut. 5:1212Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee. (Deuteronomy 5:12).—Ordained in connection with Creation rest, but as a memorial given as a remembrance of the grace of deliverance from Egypt, and thus of rest afforded to servants.