Disproofs 7: Shabbat and public domain [ Disproofs ]
From the Disproofs of the Oral Law series.7. When the Torah [Ex. 16:29] says "Let no man leave his place on the seventh day" to what place is this referring? Does it mean his home, his property if he has more than one home, his neighborhood, his city, or something else [Kuzari, ibid; Rashbatz, ibid.]? In fact, Isaiah [66:23] says "It shall be that at every New Moon and on every sabbath all mankind will come to bow down before Me - said the L-rd" which implies that people will leave their homes on the sabbath and go to worship the L-rd [Rashbatz, ibid., 31a]. Evidently, Isaiah did not understand this verse in Exodus as the simple reading would have it.The Orthodox divide all space into a "private domain" and a "public domain". They have an elaborate system of laws that regulate what can and cannot be done in the "public domain" during Shabbat. Here, Gil Student says that these laws are referred to in Exodus 16:29, yet are not specified in writing. Therefore, he concludes, they must be specified in an Oral Law.
However, as becomes immediately clear by considering the verse in its context, it does not refer to any domains or to any regulations associated with them. The Orthodox take the verse out of context, claim that it refers to something, and then say that this something is not specified in writing. But, contrary to their claims, the verse has nothing to do with any domains. (Also see my article on Shabbat.)
Here is the verse in context:
So they gathered it [manna] every morning, each as much as he needed to eat; for when the sun grew hot, it would melt. On the sixth day they gathered double the amount of food, two omers for each; and when all the chieftains of the community came and told Moses, he said to them, "This is what YHWH meant: Tomorrow is a day of rest, a holy sabbath of YHWH. Bake what you would bake and boil what you would boil; and all that is left put aside to be kept until morning." So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered; and it did not turn foul, and there were no maggots in it. Then Moses said, "Eat it today, for today is a sabbath of YHWH; you will not find it today on the plain. Six days you shall gather it; on the seventh day, the sabbath, there will be none." Yet some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found nothing. And YHWH said to Moses, "How long will you men refuse to obey My commandments and My teachings? Mark that YHWH has given you the sabbath; therefore He gives you two days' food on the sixth day. Let everyone remain where he is: let no one leave his place on the seventh day." So the people remained inactive on the seventh day.The Israelites are in the desert. God gives them a food, which they call manna. Normally, they have to gather it every day. But on the sixth day, that is, on Friday, God gives them double the usual amount; He says that they should not gather it on the seventh day, on Shabbat. Yet, there are some people who try to gather manna on Shabbat. To this, God asks why the people disobey Him and go out to gather manna even though it is forbidden. He then says that they should not go out to gather but rather remain where they are. In other words, the verse refers to a prohibition against gathering manna, a prohibition that was already clearly stated; it is not talking about any private or public domains.
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It is also a familiar pattern that the rabbis impose some imaginary rabbinic concept on Biblical figures. They claim that King Solomon
established the idea of an "eruv" which is the imaginary boundary, within which carrying (even of heavy objects) is permitted. The rabbis have a very queer view of what work entails. Thus, according to rabbinic law, lifting a very heavy item, eg a table or sofa and carrying it from one room to another is not work, if it is done within a house. But carrying a tissue paper or key in one's pocket, outdoors is a form of work, punishable by death.
Excellent points. The Eruv thing is so painfully awkward to explain to anyone. Almost as much as shabbos-goy.
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