Norwich bulletin., 1921-04-11
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
History sf the Sabbath.

MT. Editor: In the numerous discus-
 sions in The Bulletin on Sabbath and
 Sunday, no one seems tolave sought for light in the history of the word Sabbath and of Sabbath observance. As to both, the Jewish Eneyclonedia says, there is every probability that it (the Sabbath)
 had its origin in Babylon" The usual Hebrew name is Shabbath the less com
 mon. Shabbaton is equivalent to or hor- | rowed from the BabyloniaA Shabattum. which is derived from the very ancient ! Surnerian Shabat, from sag, heart, and bat, to cease or rest; therefore mean | ing "heart rest" (Sumer Is the Shiar of the Bible of Chaldea-) (Abraham emil
 granted from UT of the Chaldee.) The
 root of the word Shabbath is not in
 Hebrew, nor was Shabattum the rest-day
 ending the seven-day week; but the fes- tival of the full moon on the 18th of the
 month; and the reason for it's adoption
 Is clearly stated on the pre-Mosaic fifth tablet of the Chaldean Story of the Crea
 tion. in referring to Marduk's ordainine of the heavenly bodies. "Nannaru Oht
 moon) he caused to shine, ruling the
 night to make known the (fes- tivaD days. At the bAeinnire 2 of the month the horns shine forth ts
 make known the seasons. On the ssv.
 enth day peFfeeting the tiara. A shapat. tu shalt thou then encounter. mid
 monthly" (Sse Genesis 1:14-17)
 The seven-daS week also. as far a.
 now known, originated with the Baby lonians. who were the best astronomer : of the oldest hist9fic times. and named , the days after tHe seven planets knewr , to. them, beginning with Saturn's day the Tth, 1tth. 31st. and 18th day of ever.
 month was set apart. On the tablets,
 "The seventh day Is holy way of Mar
 du% and Zerpanitum. Tn,
 shepherd of the great tribes shall no } eat salted meat cooked over the em bers. The king shall not rid v in chariot" The 14th day was dedi z cated to Nin-Iili and Nergol (sod O war;. The 21st was the day of vetlve of n fering to Sin (the moon-god) and Sham e ash (the sun) while the 2Sth was tn r day of Ea (god of the deep. and of vi' II don.) Sacrifice was made after nigh' 6 fall of each of these holy days. as tn V Babylonian day began at sunset. Tn
 first mention of the Israelites being con - manded to keep a day holy. is In Exc ; dus 1928: new thing to them 6 = the seventh day after the mama va 4 given; the Egyptians dividing time ! 4 ten-day periods so "thefe went out son < ot the people on the seventh day for { IF gather. and they found none" This w. n the 22d day of the second month ot Il v Hebrew sacred year, recently establish' I- on the departure from EEypt. Ex. 12 :: v No reference back of the six days 7 mama, nor to divine example was giv,
 to the people, with this command. n, - do the two versions of the Decalevl agree as to the reason. cemnare F
 2A:11, with Deut. 5:1i. IS. where 1t
 \ given. That thy manservant and u
 maidservant may rest as well as tho . And remember that then vast servs IS in the land of Egypt, and that the Lel in thy Ged brought thee out thenc l. through q mighty hand. and by
 of stretched out arm: Therefore the To H. thy God commanded thee to keen t n sabbath day. -" This Is 2 humanitarii ,o reason; as was that given by Jes, s- '-The sabbath was made for man, al not man for the sabbath" Mark g.: .. The Jewish teachers of Jesus time h. ~ branched out Into 3s different groups acts which they claimed broke the sa bath; and each Greuy vas suhdivia' A. into an intelerAble number in the agg1 U gate. of specifications. The fourth eo '! mandment refers to the seventh day
 V traced from the beginning ot the mann s, period. Ex. IS and Ex. so III cites
 hd example. not pTeeept or command, a ns says nothing of chronological cennecti T. between the seventh day Of Cfeatit lle week and the seventh AaY of mama . e. goea t commit us to the theory that s- days Of creation were eaiy ff ho' ar long. Furthermore, it dehes proof, il ss. the Hebrews have kept the reckoning It. sabbaths h unbrclen course. through,