The concept of the Sabbath as a day of rest is deeply rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, originating from the creation narrative and the Ten Commandments. The Sabbath is not only a day of rest for individuals but extends to servants and cattle, emphasizing a holistic approach to rest and worship.

Biblical Foundation

The commandment to observe the Sabbath is found in the Decalogue, where it is stated: "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 animals, nor the foreigner within your gates" (Exodus 20:8-10). This passage underscores the inclusive nature of the Sabbath rest, extending beyond the immediate family to include servants and even animals.

Servants and the Sabbath

In ancient Israelite society, servants were an integral part of the household. The command to allow servants to rest on the Sabbath reflects a broader ethical concern for their well-being and dignity. By including servants in the Sabbath rest, the commandment promotes a sense of equality and compassion, recognizing the humanity and worth of all individuals, regardless of their social status.

The Sabbath rest for servants is reiterated in Deuteronomy 5:14, which states: "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" . This passage highlights the intention that servants should experience the same rest and rejuvenation as their masters, fostering a community of rest and worship.

Cattle and the Sabbath

The inclusion of cattle in the Sabbath commandment is a testament to the comprehensive nature of God's care for creation. By mandating rest for animals, the Sabbath law acknowledges the interconnectedness of all living beings and the responsibility of humans to care for the creatures under their stewardship.

The rest for cattle is not merely a practical consideration but a theological one, reflecting the Creator's concern for all aspects of His creation. This provision ensures that the Sabbath is a day of peace and restoration for the entire household, including its animals.

Theological Implications

The Sabbath commandment, with its provision for servants and cattle, reveals a God who values rest, justice, and compassion. It serves as a reminder of the divine order established at creation, where rest is an essential component of life. The Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between God and His people, a day set apart for worship, reflection, and renewal.

By extending the Sabbath rest to servants and cattle, the commandment embodies the principles of mercy and equality, challenging believers to live out these values in their daily lives. The Sabbath thus becomes a foretaste of the ultimate rest and restoration promised in the eschatological hope of the Christian faith.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:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Book ii.
... from one another; for the word Sabbath in the ... body knows, that the Egyptians were
servants to the ... not the world thereby rendered destitute of cattle, as Apion ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/against apion/book ii.htm

Christ Glorified as the Builder of his Church
... Delivered on Sabbath Morning, May 2, 1858, by the. ... the dashing cataract, and of the
lowing cattle; and often ... out of the quarry by Hiram's servants, assisted by ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/christ glorified as the builder.htm

The Tabernacle of the Most High
... Delivered on Sabbath Morning, August 14th, 1859, by the. ... You may hear the cattle
lowing yonder, you may mark the ... Let thy works appear unto thy servants, and thy ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the tabernacle of the most.htm

Natural Science and Theological Science.
... the fowl of the air, and over the cattle." "And the ... than the Fall,"the Law of the
Sabbath;"which in ... that He hath ever commissioned His servants to deliver ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon ii natural science and.htm

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
... Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their ... When the Sabbath points out
a rest from sin, and ... acceded to his covenant, or his faithful servants to the ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xi covenanting enforced by.htm

1870-1871. Workers' Meetings at Home of Industry --Training Home ...
... and words of cheer ready for the servants of the ... Cattle, sheep, and poultry were
all around, and all his ... When our Sabbath-scholars gather, They shall join the ...
/.../lowe/gods answers/chapter iii 1870-1871 workers meetings.htm

The Census and the Journey of the Holy Family
... holy things, as I saw was always the Sabbath practice of ... The servants of the house,
however, gave them a very ... lying on the ground and used for cattle to drink ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/x the census and the.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1832 to the Beginning ...
... by this neglect toward her servants, incurred a ... active trustees, class leaders, and
sabbath school superintendents ... have plenty of horses and cattle for domestic ...
/.../chapter 12 from the close.htm

The Fourth Commandment
... manservant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy ... went to sacrifice he left
his servants and the ... The Lord forbade mamma to be gathered on the Sabbath. ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 4 the fourth commandment.htm

1875-1877. Mrs. Way's Sewing --Class for Jewesses --Bible Flower ...
... long past; lessons in that village Sabbath-school of the ... taking our counsel and going
as servants into Christian ... We have seven head of horn-cattle, five horses ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/chapter vi 1875-1877 mrs ways.htm

What day is the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday? Do Christians have to observe the Sabbath day? | GotQuestions.org

How is Jesus our Sabbath Rest? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath? | GotQuestions.org

Sabbath: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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