Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SABBATH DAYS JOURNEY

The distance of travel permissible on the sabbath. Work was prohibited on the sabbath, and travel was considered work (Exod. 16:29). Therefore, scholars of the law had to determine what distance of travel was permissible. In the wilderness a sabbath day’s journey was the distance between the ark and the camp, which was 2000 cubits or ca. 914 m. (1000 yds.; Josh. 3:4). The same distance existed between the levitical cities and the boundaries of their pasture lands (Num. 35:4-5). In NT times a sabbath day’s journey was about the distance from the Mount of Olives to the temple (Acts 1:12).

Debates grew around the question of how much travel was permitted. Some Jews redefined their “home” by depositing food 2000 cubits from their home. This spot became a new home, and travel could extend another 2000 cubits from there. In some cases entire towns were declared one’s domicile, and thus travel could extend from the border (hence the importance of boundary markers).

Bibliography. D. A. Carson, ed., From Sabbath to Lord’s Day (Grand Rapids, 1982); E. P. Sanders, Jewish Law from Jesus to the Mishnah (Philadelphia, 1990), 6-23.

Gary M. Burge







Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)

Info Language Arrow Return to Top
Prayer Tents is a Christian mission organization that serves Christians around the world and their local bodies to make disciples ("evangelize") more effectively in their communities. Prayer Tents provides resources to enable Christians to form discipleship-focused small groups and make their gatherings known so that other "interested" people may participate and experience Christ in their midst. Our Vision is to make disciples in all nations through the local churches so that anyone seeking God can come to know Him through relationships with other Christians near them.

© Prayer Tents 2024.
Prayer Tents Facebook icon Prayer Tents Twitter icon Prayer Tents Youtube icon Prayer Tents Linkedin icon