Rest Even From the Thought of Labor on the Sabbath

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 296:2

Another interpretation: Rest from the very thought of labor, and it says, "If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath... then you shall delight" (Isaiah 58:13-14). (Exodus 20:10) "And the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God." Why is it stated? Because it says, "whoever does work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death" (Exodus 31:15). We have heard the punishment, but we have not heard the warning. Therefore Scripture says, "and the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God." Since there is no need for Scripture to say "Sabbath," it comes only to bring the night into the category of the warning.

Themes