Knowledge of the Sabbath by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 21, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 41.

Knowledge of the Sabbath

By Editor

No. 647. Knowledge of the Sabbath.

DEUT. 5:3. Does it mean that they had no knowledge of the Sabbath before the manna?

Our correspondent must have given the wrong reference; for Deut. 5:3 mentions neither the Sabbath nor the manna. Deut. 8:3 tells us that the children of Israel knew naught of the manna till the Lord gave it to them in the wilderness. In all probability many if not most of the Israelites knew of the Sabbath in Egypt; but they could not there keep it. Moses and Aaron evidently pointed out to them their duty, and they attempted to keep the Sabbath. Pharaoh then brings his charge against these servants of God: "Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let [hinder] the people from their works? get you unto your burdens. And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens." Ex. 5:4, 5. It was because of this refusal of Pharaoh that Moses demanded of the king: "Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me." Ex. 8:1. And when the Lord brought them out of Egypt, where they could not serve him, into the wilderness, where they could, the test of their service was their observance of his Sabbath. Ex. 16:4, 27, 28.