Sabbath Rules

March 10, 2009, 10:43 am by dc-agape.

Geniza A Col 10:14 – 11:18

These are the rules for the Sabbath, there are no punishments listed for breaking these rules, so they really aren’t like the Laws in the Damascus Document (CD). 

1)      The most important is when it starts.  It is the sixth day.  It is measured as starting by the “time that the solar orb is above the horizon by its diameter”. 

2)      No course of empty words should be spoken.  Basically, no cursing and no false promises.

3)      They could not seek out anyone who owed them money from a loan.

4)      They could not go sue in court over property or money.

5)      Even talking about work that needed to be done on the first day of the week was prohibited.

6)      This is an odd one.  It would almost seem that people could not go into “the field” for any reason.  As it goes on to say “to do his desired activity”. 

7)      No one was allowed to travel more than “1000 cubits” (500 yards, 457.2 meters - convertme.com) outside the city they were in.

8 )      This one has three rules that are relate.

a.      Anything eaten had to be prepared the day before.

b.      Nothing remaining in the field could be eaten.

c.       And unless someone is in the “camp” they could not “drink”.  I hope this means wine and not all liquids!

9)      While journeying on the Sabbath, bathing seems to be ok, but drawing the water into a vessel is out.

10)  They could not send a substitute to do their work on the Sabbath.

11)  They could not where dirty clothes on the Sabbath.  It is not clear if they were allowed to launder them or at least freshen the cloths up on the Sabbath, which was the only option for where dirty clothes on the Sabbath.

12)  There is something about “crossing Sabbath borders” on the Sabbath.  Anyone have a clue what that means????

13)  A person is allowed to graze their animals up to 2000 cubits away from town (1000 yards, 914.4 meters).  If the animal was uncooperative, the owner “could not raise his hand or hit it with a fist” to make it go out and graze.

14)  No one should carry things into or out of their house.

15)  This is also a list of related things that could not be done on the Sabbath.

a.      Opening a sealed vessel.

b.      Carry any medicine.

c.       Pick up stones or dust in the house.

d.      Carry a baby.

16)  Servants, maids, and employees were free from being “provoked” on the Sabbath.

17)  This one also has more than one idea combined.

a.      If an animal gives birth on the Sabbath, no one is to assist the animal.

b.      If an animal falls into a well of pit on the Sabbath, no one is to pick the animal up out of the well.

18)  If Gentiles are nearby, that place is unacceptable as a place to rest on the Sabbath.

19)  They were not allowed to make a profit on the Sabbath.

20)  If anyone fell into a body of water no one else could help them out.  I hope everyone could swim for up to 24 hours back then!

21)  Only “the Sabbath whole burnt offering” was allowed to be sacrificed on the Sabbath.

And I thought the Blue Laws (Wikipedia) of the Southern States of the US were bad!I remember them being much stricter than even what is written in Wikipedia.  Wikipedia focuses on alcohol sells.  When I lived in South Carolina, basically the only business that could operate was the gas station, and that was for the sale of gasoline only.  Hospitals were the only other thing that could be open on Sunday.  Today the Blue Laws are only related to alcohol, so it makes sense that the internet would be more focused on the present interpretation of the Blue Laws

Posted in Damascus Document, Dead Sea Scroll | Print | 3 Comments »