A Sabbatical Study

In this study I would like to study the Shabbat (Sabbath) and it’s implications. Lets start with a definition of Shabbat:

The Shabbat begins Friday at sundown and ends at sundown on Saturday. The Shabbat is therefore NOT the same as Saturday. which begins and ends at midnight.

As we study the issue of the Shabbat, please remember that the Shabbat was given as a “sign of the covenant” to the Jews.

The Shabbat was made for all men to enjoy, when they entered the Mosaic covenant. Gentiles, and Jews, had to enter the covenant before they could enjoy the Shabbat. The Shabbat was part of the contract between HaShem and Israel and a token and sign of that covenant:

Shemot (Exodus) 31:12-17 And HaShem spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Shabbats ye shall keep: for it [is] a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that [ye] may know that I [am] HaShem that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the Shabbat therefore; for it [is] holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth [any] work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh [is] the Shabbat of rest, holy to HaShem: whosoever doeth [any] work in the Shabbat day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Shabbat, to observe the Shabbat throughout their generations, [for] a perpetual covenant. It [is] a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for [in] six days HaShem made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

The contract was not made with men before Moses. It was made with ISRAEL in the days of Moses:

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 5:1-3 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. HaShem our G-d made a covenant with us in Horeb. HaShem made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, [even] us, who [are] all of us here alive this day.

The Shabbat only applied to the Jew, the ger tzaddik, and the ger toshav who was ready to convert. (A Ger toshav is a Gentile who keeps the seven laws of Noah. A ger tzaddik is the name for a Gentile after he has entered the covenant and becomes a Jew.) It did not apply to all people. Some may quote Hakham Shaul:

Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Shabbat [days]: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Mashiach.

Hakham Shaul is not abrogating the Torah! He is not changing what HaShem did with the Israelites. He does not have the authority or the desire to change this. Therefore we must conclude that the ones keeping the Shabbat are either Jews or proselytes (ger toshav).

Hakham Shaul may also have been referring to the festival Shabbats which the Gentiles may keep, except for Shemini Atzeret. Remember that the natural progression would have the Gentiles become ger toshav, then the ger toshav would then convert and become a ger tzaddik.

Some may also claim that His Majesty King Yeshua changed this by saying:

Marqos (Mark) 2:27 And he said unto them, The Shabbat was made for man, and not man for the Shabbat:

We must conclude that Mashiach’s audience were Jews and that this was not meant to apply to those who were not a part of the covenant.

There is an important concept here, that we learn from this world. I don't enjoy the wages and perks of a sports star, because I did not sign the contract and because I did not do the work. The Shabbat was a "sign" for those who "signed" the covenant, and kept its provision. It was the reward for those folks alone, much as a sports star will not tolerate an interloper. All covenants, or contracts, are like this: Those who sign, and keep the provisions, enjoy the rewards. Those who don't sign, or don't keep the provisions, do not share in the reward.

While Jews and ger toshav will be part of the Olam HaBa, they both have different roles and functions. This does not have anything to do with enjoying the Shabbat.

So, far from being a discouragement, the Shabbat is meant to entice the Gentile to "sign" the covenant (immerse in the mikveh, brit milah, and agree before a Bet Din to keep the covenant). It is a reward for the man who loves HaShem and is willing to do what it takes. It is NOT for any Tom, Dick, or Harry who decides he wants it. That is outright theft and it negates the covenant.

As the Talmud states: "A gentile who observed Shabbat deserves death"^{^[1]}

The Maharsha explains^{^[2]} that the Shabbat is, metaphorically, a bride. Indeed, the Talmud refers^{^[3]} to the Shabbat as a bride and the Shabbat is greeted in the same way that a bride is greeted This imagery was immortalized by Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz (a 16th century poet and Kabbalist from Tzfat) in his classical liturgical song, Lecha Dodi, which is sung just before the reception of the Shabbat. Rabbi Avraham Sperling writes^{^[4]} based on this allegorical comparison, that Shabbat is the female companion to the Israelite nation. The Jewish Nation is married to Shabbat. Therefore, when a non-Jew follows the rules of Shabbat, it is as if he is committing adultery with the married bride Shabbat, and so he is liable for the death penalty. However, before the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, Shabbat did not yet have any marital connection to the Jewish Nation, and therefore, the patriarchs of the Jewish Nation, even if they had the halachic status of Noachides, were allowed to observe the laws of Shabbat in its entirety.

Please keep this in mind as Your Excellencies study the Shabbat.

Question one: Who can/must celebrate the "feasts" and the Shabbats?

Shemot (Exodus) 20:1-11 And G-d spoke all these words: "I am HaShem your G-d, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, HaShem your G-d, am a jealous G-d, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, But showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments. "You shall not misuse the name of HaShem your G-d, for HaShem will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. "Remember the Shabbat day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, But the seventh day is a Shabbat to HaShem your G-d. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days HaShem made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore HaShem blessed the Shabbat day and made it holy.

The Shabbat applied to all people, aliens (gerim), and animals within the gates of the Israelites. Now, if one were to go to Mea Sharim, in Israel, a city of Orthodox Jews, how many non-orthodox Jews do you think we would find? And of that number, how many would you expect are not ger toshav or ger tzaddik? Judging by appearances, there are no Gentiles and the gerim (plural of ger) all look like Jews. Any non-Jew would feel way out of place and would be VERY uncomfortable when trying to work on the Shabbat. So, when the Torah says that the Shabbat applies to those within the gates of the orthodox Jew, this should be taken quite literally. The Shabbat applies only to the non-Jew who lives, literally, in the midst of an orthodox Jewish city. These non-Jews are almost certainly gerim.

(The question: "Who is Israel", is profound. If you do not know, you need to study further.)

Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:34 The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am HaShem your G-d.

An alien is a not a native of the land. This is the Hebrew "ger", a righteous non-Jew who has been grafted into Israel through Brit Milah, immersion, and the Bet Din.

Shemot (Exodus) 23:12 "Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed.

All animals and people were commanded to rest on the Shabbat. The passage does not indicate that they had to be within the gates, but merely owned by a Jew.

Shemot (Exodus) 31:13-17 "Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my Shabbats. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am HaShem, who makes you holy. "'Observe the Shabbat, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Shabbat of rest, holy to HaShem. Whoever does any work on the Shabbat day must be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the Shabbat, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days HaShem made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested.'"

The Israelites must observe the Shabbats. Whoever does any work on the Shabbat day must be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the Shabbat as a lasting covenant. The Shabbat day was to be a sign between HaShem and the Israelites forever.

Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:1-3 HaShem said to Moses, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, HaShem your G-d, am holy. "'Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must observe my Shabbats. I am HaShem your G-d.

HaShem gave the Shabbat day commands to Israel through Moses. The entire assembly of Israel must observe HaShem's Shabbats.

Bamidbar (Numbers) 15:13-16 "'Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this way when he brings an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to HaShem. For the generations to come, whenever an alien or anyone else living among you presents an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to HaShem, he must do exactly as you do. The community is to have the same rules for you and for the alien living among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before HaShem: The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the alien living among you.'"

The same laws and regulations will apply to both Israelite and the alien living among them.

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 5:14-15 But the seventh day is a Shabbat to HaShem your G-d. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that HaShem your G-d brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore HaShem your G-d has commanded you to observe the Shabbat day.

The Shabbat applied to Israelites and aliens within Israel's gates. The Shabbat applied to the animals within Israel's gates.

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 31:11-12 When all Israel comes to appear before HaShem your G-d at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing. Assemble the people--men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns--so they can listen and learn to fear HaShem your G-d and follow carefully all the words of this law.

All Israel and the aliens living in their towns were commanded to follow HaShem's law.

Yehoshua (Joshua) 8:32-35 There, in the presence of the Israelites, Yehoshua copied on stones the law of Moses, which he had written. All Israel, aliens and citizens alike, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of HaShem, facing those who carried it--the priests, who were Levites. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of HaShem had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel. Afterward, Yehoshua read all the words of the law--the blessings and the curses--just as it is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Yehoshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them.

The whole assembly of Israel including the aliens who lived among them heard HaShem's law.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 14:1 HaShem will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land. Aliens will join them and unite with the house of Jacob.

Aliens will join them in the land and unite with the house of Jacob.

Ezekiel 47:21-23 "You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who have settled among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. In whatever tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him his inheritance," declares the Sovereign HaShem.

Aliens, in Israel, and Israelites were given an inheritance in land.

Ephesians 2:17-22 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with G-d's people and members of G-d's household, Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Mashiach Yeshua himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which G-d lives by his Spirit.

Foreigners and aliens, who accept the Lord, are fellow citizens with HaShem's people. This does not make them Jews or a part of Israel, it makes them citizens.

Romans 11:13-21 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry In the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, Do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if G-d did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

There is a distinction between a Ger tzaddik and a Jew, but, they are both part of the olive tree, and called Israel. Ger tzaddik are holy because the Israelites are holy.

Question two: What are the attributes and requirements of the Shabbat?

Bereshit (Genesis) 2:2-4 By the seventh day G-d had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And G-d blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When HaShem G-d made the earth and the heavens--

It is holy because HaShem rested from His creation work.

Shemot (Exodus) 16:12-36 "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am HaShem your G-d.'" That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread HaShem has given you to eat. This is what HaShem has commanded: 'Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.'" The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed. Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning." However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much--two omers for each person--and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them, "This is what HaShem commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of rest, a holy Shabbat to HaShem. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.'" So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. "Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a Shabbat to HaShem. You will not find any of it on the ground today. Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Shabbat, there will not be any." Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. Then HaShem said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? Bear in mind that HaShem has given you the Shabbat; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out." So the people rested on the seventh day. The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. Moses said, "This is what HaShem has commanded: 'Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.'" So Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before HaShem to be kept for the generations to come." As HaShem commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna in front of the Testimony, that it might be kept. The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan. (An omer is one tenth of an ephah.)

The seventh day is the Shabbat. It is a day of rest.

We are to stay where we are and not go out.

Shemot (Exodus) 20:8-11 "Remember the Shabbat day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, But the seventh day is a Shabbat to HaShem your G-d. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days HaShem made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore HaShem blessed the Shabbat day and made it holy.

Jews remember the shabbat by keeping it holy. You shall not work on the shabbat. The shabbat is blessed and holy. So, how does one make the shabbat holy? Observant Jews do two things to make the shabbat holy. They light two candles before the shabbat starts, then they make kiddush (wine blessing) after shabbat starts. Then, we make kiddush just before shabbat ends and light a candle after shabbat ends. Thus we perform the candle lighting before and after shabbat and then we make kiddush right after shabbat starts and just before shabbat ends.

Shemot (Exodus) 23:12-13 "Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed. "Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips.

Do no work on the seventh day so that you may be refreshed.

The shabbat is a sign between the Israelites and HaShem. Any Jew who desecrates the shabbat must be put to death. Any Jew who does any work on the shabbat day must be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the shabbat as a lasting covenant. It is a sign between HaShem and the Israelites forever.

Shemot (Exodus) 34:21 "Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.

Jews rest on the seventh day even though work may be critical.