Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 31:12-17
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Exodus 31:12-17
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Exodus 31:12-17
SCRIPTURE
"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily ye shall keep my sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am Jehovah who sanctifieth you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that profaneth 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 shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Jehovah: whosoever doeth any work on the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed." — Exodus 31:12-17 (ASV)
THE LAW OF THE SABBATH DECLARED ANEW UNDER A PENAL SANCTION.
The worship of the tabernacle was so closely connected with Sabbatical observance (Leviticus 19:30), that no surprise can be felt at a return to the subject here. It was not only that there might be a danger of zealous men breaking the Sabbatical rest in their eagerness to expedite the work of construction now required of them. The re-enactment of the Law might serve to check this tendency if it existed; but clearly, the present passage is not specifically aimed at such a narrow purpose.
It is entirely general in its aim and teaching. It re-enacts the law of the Sabbath:
- under a new sanction;
- with new light on its intention and value.