The Sabbath Commandment in the Book of the Covenant: Ethics on Behalf of the Outcast

Abstract

The Sabbath commandment in the book of the covenant (Exod 23:12) employs unusual

linguistic terms which link it to Israel's patriarchal and covenantal history.

This study suggests first, that the context of the Sabbath commandment in the book

of the covenant is represented by the motif of God's compassionate listening to the

outcry of the oppressed, a motif fundamental to the book of Exodus, which even triggers

the exodus event. Second, a word-play connects the story of the exclusion of Ishmael

and Hagar from the household of Abraham to the Sabbath and highlights its

ethical implications. Finally, the use of an unusual expression indicating work during

the six days of the week connects the Sabbath to creation and thus highlights its

universal dimension. The Sabbath rest changes humanity's toilsome work into a positive

perspective, making meaningful and fruitful work worth celebrating.

Key Words: Exod 23:12, Sabbath, Sabbath commandment, Sabbath theology, ethics,

work, compassion, Ishmael and Hagar, book of the covenant