The Sabbath Among the Ten Covenants and What Israel Died to Keep

"Between Me and the children of Israel it is a sign forever" (Exodus 31:17), and not between Me and the nations of the world. "It is a sign forever": this tells that the Sabbath will never cease from Israel, because they gave themselves up for it. For everything for which Israel gave their lives endured in their hands, such as the Sabbath, circumcision, the study of Torah, and ritual immersion; because Israel gave their lives for them, they endured in their hands. And a matter for which Israel did not give their lives did not endure in their hands, such as the Temple, the [system of] laws, the sabbatical years, and the jubilees; because Israel did not give their lives for them, they did not endure in their hands. "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth" (Exodus 31:17): did He rest from His labor, or also from judgment? Scripture teaches, "and was refreshed" (vayinafash): this tells that judgment is never suspended before Him, as it says, "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne" (Psalms 89:15), and it says, "Cloud and thick darkness surround Him" (Psalms 97:2). Another interpretation: "sabbath and was refreshed": He rested from the utterances of the work of creation, and all His desire was completed, which is as His soul and His heart; therefore it says "sabbath and was refreshed." Great is the Sabbath, for it is one of ten things concerning which a covenant was stated. The rainbow, as it says, "I have set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant" (Genesis 9:13). Circumcision, as it says, "My covenant shall be in your flesh" (Genesis 17:13). The Sabbath, as it says, "to perform the Sabbath throughout their generations, an everlasting covenant." Idolatry [the prohibition of it], as it says, "You shall keep My covenant" (Exodus 19:5); Rabbi Akiva said: this is the covenant against idolatry. The study of Torah, as it says, "For according to these words I have made a covenant with you" (Exodus 34:27). The freeing of slaves, as it says, "I made a covenant with your fathers, that at the end of seven years you shall let go each his Hebrew brother" (Jeremiah 34:13). The priesthood, as it says, "an everlasting covenant of salt" (Numbers 18:19). The Levites, as it says, "that My covenant might be with Levi" (Malachi 2:4). The kingship of the house of David, as it says, "I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn to David My servant" (Psalms 89:4). The land of Israel, as it says, "On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, To your seed [I have given this land]" (Genesis 15:18). Great is the Sabbath, for an infant is not circumcised until a Sabbath has passed over him, as it says, "And at eight days old he shall be circumcised among you" (Genesis 17:12). Great is the Sabbath, for an offering is not brought until a Sabbath has passed over it, as it says, "and from the eighth day onward it shall be accepted" (Leviticus 22:27). Great is the Sabbath, for the priests are not fit for service until a Sabbath has passed over them, as it says, "Seven days shall the priest wear them" (Exodus 29:30). Great is the Sabbath, for the altar itself is not fit for service until a Sabbath has passed over it, as it says, "Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar" (Exodus 29:37). Great is the Sabbath, for the leper, the man and woman with a flux, the menstruant, the woman after childbirth, and one defiled by the dead do not merit to become pure unless a Sabbath has passed over them, for so it says of all of them, "seven days." Great is the Sabbath, for the mourner is not comforted until a Sabbath has passed over him, as it says, "and he made for his father a mourning of seven days" (Genesis 50:10). Great is the Sabbath, for when Israel was impoverished of the commandments, nothing stood for them except its merit. When they were brought low in the days of Ahab, it stood for them, as it says, "and they encamped opposite one another seven days" (1 Kings 20:29). And when they were brought low in the days of Elijah, it stood for them, as it says, "and it came to pass on the seventh" (1 Kings 18:44). And when they were brought low in the days of Joram, it stood for them, as it says, "so the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom, and they made a circuit of seven days' journey" (2 Kings 3:9). Great is the Sabbath, for it was given as the test by which to distinguish the true converts, for behold, [the prophet] singled out none of the six hundred and thirteen commandments except the Sabbath alone, as it says, "And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to serve Him and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast to My covenant" (Isaiah 56:6). From here they said: an Israelite apostate who keeps his Sabbath in public, behold he is like an Israelite in every respect; and one who does not keep his Sabbath in public, behold he is like a gentile in every respect.