Topical Bible: Servant: Bond: Must Have Rest on the Sabbath

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In the biblical context, the concept of a servant, particularly a bondservant, is deeply rooted in the socio-economic and religious fabric of ancient Israelite society. The term "bondservant" refers to an individual who is bound to serve another, often in a capacity that resembles servitude or indentured labor. The Mosaic Law, as given in the Old Testament, provides specific guidelines regarding the treatment and rights of bondservants, including the observance of the Sabbath.

The Sabbath, a day of rest on the seventh day of the week, is a cornerstone of Jewish religious practice, instituted by God as a day of cessation from labor. The commandment to observe the Sabbath is found in the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments, which are foundational to the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. In Exodus 20:8-10 , the commandment states: "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 it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates."

This passage explicitly includes manservants and maidservants in the mandate to rest on the Sabbath, underscoring the inclusive nature of the Sabbath rest. The inclusion of bondservants in this commandment highlights the egalitarian aspect of the Sabbath, where all members of the community, regardless of social status, are granted the opportunity to rest and worship.

Deuteronomy 5:14 reiterates this commandment with similar language, emphasizing the importance of rest for all: "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."

The provision for bondservants to rest on the Sabbath is not merely a legal requirement but also a reflection of the theological principle that all people are created in the image of God and deserve dignity and rest. The Sabbath serves as a reminder of God's creation and His deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt, as noted in Deuteronomy 5:15 : "Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day."

The Sabbath rest for bondservants is also a testament to the social justice ethos embedded within the Mosaic Law. It ensures that even those in servitude are not overworked and are given time to rest and rejuvenate, reflecting God's compassion and care for all His people. This provision serves as a safeguard against the exploitation of labor and promotes a rhythm of work and rest that honors God and respects human dignity.

In summary, the biblical mandate for bondservants to rest on the Sabbath is a significant aspect of the Sabbath commandment, reflecting God's desire for justice, equality, and rest for all members of society. It underscores the importance of the Sabbath as a day set apart for rest, worship, and reflection on God's goodness and deliverance.

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Exodus 20:10
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates:
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Exodus 23:12
Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest: that your ox and your ass may rest, and the son of your handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.
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Deuteronomy 5:14
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your ox, nor your ass, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates; that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you.
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Library

Fundamental Oneness of the Dispensations.
... of their sharing with Greeks and barbarians, bond and free ... away from Christ to Moses,
that faithful servant himself will ... we may be God's house, we must lay fast ...
/.../chapter iii fundamental oneness of.htm

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day ...
... and remember that thou wast a servant in the ... the dominion and punishment of sin,
we have entered into ... such concurrent and ample testimony we must conclude that ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/questions about the nature and.htm

Christ and his Table-Companions "And when the Hour was Come, He ...
... a fellow-commoner with his master; the servant is seldom ... covenant; having eaten together,
they were under bond to be ... You must not come to the outward sign if ...
/.../spurgeon/till he come/christ and his table-companions and.htm

The Decalogue: I --Man and God
... daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy ... otherwise if there is to
be any bond of human ... every name, which, after all speech, must remain unspoken ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the decalogue iman and god.htm

Gethsemane
... nature) from the dissolution of the bond that binds ... struck at Malchus, [5875] the
servant [5876] of ... child at Jerusalem, proving that fowls must have been kept ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xii gethsemane.htm

Faustus is Willing to Admit that Christ May have Said that He came ...
... by this consideration to forgive the debt of his fellow-servant. ... should have blamed
Christ for ratifying a bond of the ... [727] The hardness must have been great ...
/.../faustus is willing to admit.htm

The Life of Mr. Alexander Peden.
... were all liberated at Gravesend, without any bond or imposition ... saying, Sir, I find
you a faithful servant to your ... what will become of you, ye must go back to ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr alexander 2.htm

The Fifth Day in Passion-Week - Make Ready the Passover!'
... they would meet a man - manifestly a servant - carrying a ... And here it must be remembered,
that it was of ... of His Church, gathered within the new bond of the ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ix the fifth day.htm

The Paschal Supper - the Institution of the Lord's Supper.
... taking upon Him the form of a Servant [5686] - voluntarily ... Would it finally dissolve
the bond that bound together the ... [5704] And this must have been specially ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter x the paschal supper.htm

The Transfiguration.
... God' shone through the form of a servant;' the appearance ... heavenly strains, almost
to breaking, the bond betwixt body ... The legend must be in character - that is ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i the transfiguration.htm