Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 34:21
Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.
21. in plowing time, &c.] i.e. even at times when the need of working continuously might seem most urgent. For clause a, see on Exo 23:12.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Exo 34:21-26
Thou shalt rest.
Sabbath rest in harvest
Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest; that is, you shall not violate the Sabbath-day because it is harvest. I have heard persons say, It has been six days very wet; the corn is standing, and Sunday happens to be a bright sunny day; and they say, We ought to go and cut down the corn on the Sabbath-day. Here is a provision for this very possibility. God says, Even in harvest and earing time you shall still keep the Sabbath sacred to God. And I have noticed, although I admit my observation has been very limited, that that man who has cut down his corn on the Sunday in order to get it in well, did not succeed one whir better in the long run than he that observed the Sabbath as holy, and waited for sunny week-days in order to do his week-day work. I admit that there are works of necessity and mercy that are proper to be done on the Sabbath-day; and I can conceive the possibility that a time may come–an autumn may come when, even upon the Sabbath-day, you should be obliged to cut down the corn in consequence of unfavourable weather on the week-days; but you should first be well satisfied that there is no prospect of sunshine during the six days that are to follow. Do not forget that God said–not as ceremony but morality–that in earing time, and in harvest even, thou shalt rest, or sabbatize, or keep the Lords day. (J. Cumming, D. D.)
Exemplary Sabbath-keeping
I remember one time, many years ago, I was standing out for Sunday, but the owners could not bear the thought of the smacks laying to for the Sabbath. Well, the owner I sailed for wanted me to work on Sunday. I felt I could not, so I had to leave my berth. I walked about eight weeks after that in search of employment. Several owners asked me whether I wanted a situation. I asked them whether they wished me to fish on the Lords day. They said, yes. I had to decline. Well, the money was getting short, and I used to go in the dark places on the sands to lift up my heart to God to help me to stand against this fierce temptation. I had no help at home. My wife, not loving my Saviour, could not understand my objection, and I have often seen her crying to think that she and the two little children would have no bread to eat. My faith told me that my Father in heaven would not let them be without bread and water–that would be sure. At length the time came when I had to take my watch to pledge to get bread. I started with a heavy heart, and when I got to the shop I could not gain, courage to go in for a long time. I walked up and down praying to God to keep ms strong and faithful and able to part with everything rather than to betray my trust. At last I went in, and there stood one of our Church helpers behind the counter. Hullo, says he, Wilkinson, has it come to this? He was a dear young Christian, and has been a minister of the gospel for many years now. He asked me what I wanted there. Then I told him I had come to pledge my watch to get bread for wife and children. The tears stood in both our eyes. At last he asked, How much do you want on it? I said, I dont know; give me enough to get something to eat to-day; and to-morrow, perhaps, God may see fit to give me something to do where I can still serve Him. Well, he gave me some money, and he shook hands with me, and said, Have faith and courage; keep trusting in the Lord, and He will bring you through. And so He did. The next week three smacks had to be sold, and a Christian man bought one. He asked me to go as skipper of her. He told me, before I went to sea, not to do anything on Sundays if I could help it. That is twenty-six years ago, and that is how the Lord brought me through. (Captain Wilkinson, Mission Smack Ed. Birkbeck.)
Observe the feast.
Gods provision for His peoples enjoyment
I. That seasons for rejoicing were commanded. Let those who think that the Old Dispensation was gloomy remember that there was Divine injunction for joy and feasting three times a year.
II. That these seasons for rejoicing were conveniently appointed. Not in winter, but–
1. In spring, Passover.
2. Summer, First-fruits.
3. Autumn, Ingathering.
III. That these seasons for rejoicing had a religious basis.
1. The feasts were unto God.
2. Were in remembrance of Divine services which made rejoicing possible.
IV. That these seasons for rejoicing were connected with religious acts (Exo 34:17-19).
1. Personal dedication.
2. Sacrifices.
V. That seasons of rejoicing must not engender slovenliness and uncleanness (Exo 34:18).
VI. That seasons of rejoicing must not be desecrated by unnatural or superstitious ceremonies. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mothers milk; an outrage on nature and connected with witchcraft. In conclusion, if Judaism was a religion of joy, much more so is Christianity. The latter–
1. Was inaugurated as glad tidings of great joy.
2. Its leading fact and doctrines are grounds of joy (1Jn 1:1-4).
3. Its great central and fundamental principle is an occasion of joy (Rom 5:11).
4. The fruit of the Spirit is joy.
5. It provides an eternity of joy.
6. But remember the joy of the Lords your strength, and it is only in the Lord that we can rejoice evermore (Php 4:4). (J. W. Burn.)
Thrice in the year.–
The three yearly feasts at Jerusalem
We will–
I. Draw your attention to the institution recorded in the text. Consider–
1. Of what nature this appointment was: partly political, and partly religious.
2. What care God took to guard against the objections to which it was liable.
II. Suggest some observations founded upon it.
1. The service of God is of paramount obligation.
2. They who serve the Lord shall be saved by Him. (C. Simeon, M. A.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 21. In earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.] This commandment is worthy of especial note; many break the Sabbath on the pretense of absolute necessity, because, if in harvest time the weather happens to be what is called bad, and the Sabbath day be fair and fine, they judge it perfectly lawful to employ that day in endeavouring to save the fruits of the field, and think that the goodness of the day beyond the preceding, is an indication from Providence that it should be thus employed. But is not the above command pointed directly against this? I have known this law often broken on this pretence, and have never been able to discover a single instance where the persons who acted thus succeeded one whit better than their more conscientious neighbors, who availed themselves of no such favourable circumstances, being determined to keep God’s law, even to the prejudice of their secular interests; but no man ever yet ultimately suffered loss by a conscientious attachment to his duty to God. He who is willing and obedient, shall eat the good of the land; but God will ever distinguish those in his providence who respect his commandments.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Which times are expressed, because the great profit and seeming necessity of working at that time was likely to be a powerful temptation to make men break the sabbath.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Six days shalt thou work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest,…. This is the law of the seventh day sabbath, which is after repeated, to fix it in the minds and memories of the people, see Ex 20:10 and here it is added, which has not been mentioned before:
in earing and in harvest thou shall rest; that is, in the time of ploughing, and in the time of reaping and gathering in the harvest, which are both very busy seasons; the rest of the sabbath was not to be violated; such sort of works, though they might require haste and expedition, yet the sabbath was not to be broken on account of them: this is the common sense of the law, as it is understood; but Maimonides o gives another sense from their doctors, who say, it is forbidden to plough in the sixth year what cannot be reaped but in the seventh; and so likewise that it is forbidden to reap on the seventh year, that of which profit may be had on the eighth year, and this is founded on what the Scripture says, Ex 34:21 “in earing”, c. and they say, that here ploughing and harvest are not to be understood of the seventh day, because this is included in the general rule, “thou shalt not do any work”–they say, of that which is ploughed, whose reaping or harvest is forbidden, is the ploughing at the evening of the seventh year, and at the going out of the seventh and know this, that the evening of the seventh is the sixth year, and the going out of the seventh is the eighth year, and so Jarchi on the text observes, that some of their Rabbins say, this is to be understood of the ploughing of the seventh year, the seventh year entering, and the harvest of the seventh year, at the going out of it; so that as there is a seventh day of rest, there is a year in which ploughing and harvest are forbidden; but there are others, he says, who say the text speaks only of the sabbath.
o In Misn. Sheviith, c. 14. sect. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Verse 21:
6. The Sabbath rest must be observed. This is a repetition of Ex 20:8-10; 23:12, with an addition: God commands Sabbath observance at all seasons of the year, with no exceptions for busy times.
“Earing time,” charish, “ploughing, cutting.” The expression “to ear” is Old English for “to plough.”
Sabbath observance was a test of faith. In the East, it is necessary to complete the ploughing of the fields before the end of the Spring rains. These rains come in a short period of time, and once they are over there is no promise of additional showers until harvest. Thus it would be a real temptation to break the Sabbath rest in order to take advantage of the season. It required strong faith to trust God to provide, as one obeyed His will.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(21) The law of the Sabbath meets us at every turn in Exodus. It was so fundamental to the entire polity, that it naturally held a place in every section of the legislation. We have already found it (1) propounded at the giving of the manna (Exo. 16:22-30); (2) reasserted in the fourth commandment (Exo. 20:8-11); (3) introduced into the Book of the Covenant (Exo. 23:12); and (4) appended to the directions given for the construction of the Tabernacle (Exo. 31:13-17).
In earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.Earing-time is ploughing time, to ear being an old English verb, etymologically connected with the Greek and the Latin aro. (Comp. Gen. 45:6; Deu. 21:4; 1Sa. 8:12; Isa. 30:24.) There was a special temptation to trench on the Sabbatical rest at the times most critical in respect to agricultural operations.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 34:21. Earing-time See Gen 45:6. It is remarkable, with what minute care the observation of the sabbath is constantly provided for: no season, not even the most laborious and busy, was to exempt them from this duty.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 2:2 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 34:21 Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.
Ver. 21. In earing time and in harvest. ] Though most busy times, you may not make bold with God.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
earing = ploughing. From A. S. erian, Latin. arare.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Six: Exo 20:9-11, Exo 23:12, Exo 35:2, Deu 5:12-15, Luk 13:14, Luk 23:56
earing: Gen 45:6, Deu 21:4, 1Sa 8:12, Isa 30:24
Reciprocal: Gen 2:3 – blessed Gen 8:22 – seedtime Exo 20:10 – the seventh Exo 31:15 – Six days Lev 23:3 – General Neh 13:15 – treading wine
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 34:21. Here is a repetition of several appointments made before, especially relating to their solemn feasts: when they had made the calf, they proclaimed a feast in honour of it; now, that they might never do so again, they are here charged with the observance of the feasts which God had instituted. Thou shalt rest, even in earing-time and in harvest The most busy times of the year. All worldly business must give way to that holy rest: harvest-work will prosper the better for the religious observation of the sabbath day in harvest-time. Hereby we must show that we prefer our communion with God, before either the business or the joy of harvest.