You Shall Kindle No Fire on the Sabbath in Your Dwellings

Another interpretation. "You shall kindle no fire on the day of the Sabbath" (Exodus 35:3). Since Scripture says, "A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar; it shall not go out" (Leviticus 6:6), I might understand this to mean on weekdays and on the Sabbath alike. How then do I uphold "those who profane it shall surely be put to death" (Exodus 31:14)? With respect to all other labors except the arrangement of the altar wood. Or perhaps it includes even the arrangement of the wood, and then how do I uphold "it shall not go out"? On all other days except the Sabbath. Therefore the verse teaches: "You shall kindle no fire in any of your dwellings" (Exodus 35:3) -- in your dwellings you may not kindle, but you may kindle in the Temple. One of the disciples of Rabbi Ishmael said: "You shall kindle no fire" -- why is it stated? Since Scripture says, "If a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he is put to death" (Deuteronomy 21:22), I might understand this to apply on weekdays and on the Sabbath alike. How then do I uphold "those who profane it shall surely be put to death"? With respect to all other forms of death except execution by the court. Or does it include even execution by the court, and then how do I uphold "and you shall hang him" (Deuteronomy 21:22)? On all other days except the Sabbath. Or even on the Sabbath? Therefore the verse teaches: "You shall kindle no fire." Burning was included in the general rule of court executions and was singled out to teach: just as burning, which is one of the court's modes of execution, does not override the Sabbath, so too all other modes of court execution do not override the Sabbath. Rabbi Yonatan says: "You shall kindle no fire" -- why is it stated? Since Scripture says, "And Moses assembled" (Exodus 35:1), I might understand that one is not liable until he transgresses all thirty-nine labors. Therefore the verse teaches, "In plowing and in harvest you shall rest" (Exodus 34:21). And still I might say one is liable only after transgressing two of them, but not for one. Therefore the verse teaches, "You shall kindle no fire." Kindling was included in the general rule and was singled out to teach: just as kindling is distinct in that it is one of the thirty-nine labors and one is liable for it on its own, so too for all the other thirty-nine principal labors -- it is right that one be liable for each and every one on its own. Rabbi Natan says: "You shall kindle no fire" -- why is it stated? Since Scripture says, "And Moses assembled," I might understand that a person is not permitted to light his lamp, set his hot food to keep warm, or prepare his bonfire from the eve of the Sabbath. Therefore the verse teaches, "You shall kindle no fire in any of your dwellings on the day of the Sabbath" -- on the day of the Sabbath you may not kindle, but you may kindle on a Festival day.