Bible Readings — Bible Questions Answered

Sabbath in Old Testament Times

Why did God set apart the seventh day as holy? BR-ASI9 314.16

“For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day.” Exodus 20:11. BR-ASI9 314.17

What promise did God make to Israel, through Jeremiah, if they would keep the Sabbath? BR-ASI9 315.1

“If ye diligently hearken unto Me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, . . . and this city shall remain forever.” Jeremiah 17:24, 25. BR-ASI9 315.2

What would happen if they did not hallow the Sabbath? BR-ASI9 315.3

“But if ye will not hearken unto Me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.” Jeremiah 17:27. BR-ASI9 315.4

What befell Jerusalem in fulfillment of this when it was captured by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon? BR-ASI9 315.5

“And all the vessels of the house of God . . . he brought to Babylon. And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire.” 2 Chronicles 36:18, 19, 21. BR-ASI9 315.6

After Israel’s restoration from the Babylonian captivity, what did Nehemiah say was the reason for their punishment? BR-ASI9 315.7

“What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.” Nehemiah 13:17, 18. BR-ASI9 315.8

How does he speak of God’s giving the Sabbath to Israel? BR-ASI9 315.9

“Thou camest down also upon Mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: and madest known unto them Thy holy sabbath.” Nehemiah 9:13, 14. BR-ASI9 315.10

Note.—Let it be noted that this text does not say that God made the Sabbath then, but simply that He made it known to Israel then. They had largely forgotten it while in Egypt. (See page 183.) BR-ASI9 315.11