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Mekhilta d'Rabbi Ishmael

Halakhic Midrash

About this book
Chapter 307

(31:13) "but My Sabbaths shall you keep": What is the intent of this? From (Ibid. 20:10) "You shall not perform any labor," I would know only of labor per se. Whence would I derive (the same for) shvuth ("resting," things bordering upon labor)? It is, therefore, written "but My Sabbaths shall you keep," to include shvuth. R. Yishmael and R. Elazar b. Azaryah and R. Akiva were once walking on the road, with Levi Hasadar and R. Yishmael the son of R. Elazar b. Azaryah walking behind them, when this question was asked: Whence is it derived that the saving of a life overrides the Sabbath? R. Yishmael responded: It is written (Ibid. 22:1) "If the thief be found breaking in, etc." — If in such an instance, where it is doubtful whether he is coming to steal or to kill, and the spilling of blood defiles the land and causes the Shechinah to depart, he is permitted to kill the thief to save his life — how much more so does the saving of life override the Sabbath! R. Elazar b. Azaryah responded: If circumcision, which includes only one of a man's organs, overrides the Sabbath, how much more so all of his body! R. Akiva says: If the saving of a life overrides the sacrificial service, which overrides the Sabbath, how much more so does the saving of a life override the Sabbath! R. Yossi Haglili says:⁠ "My Sabbaths shall you keep": "but" ("ach," before "My") "divides," i.e., there are Sabbaths that you override, and there are Sabbaths that you rest. R. Shimon b. Menassia says (Ibid. 14) "And you shall keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you" — Sabbath is given to you and you are not given (i.e., "surrendered") to the Sabbath.⁠ R. Nathan says (Ibid. 16) "And the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath to observe the Sabbath for their generations": Desecrate one Sabbath in order to keep many Sabbaths. (Ibid. 13) "for it is a sign between Me and you": and not between Me and the peoples of the world. "for your generations": to be observed throughout the generations. "to know that I, the L rd, sanctify you": What is the intent of this? From (Ibid. 16) "And the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath," I might think, even a deaf-mute, an imbecile, and a minor. It is, therefore, written "to know that I, the L rd, etc." I spoke only of one who has knowledge (to internalize this.) "that I, the L rd, sanctify you": in the world to come, as with the sanctity of Sabbath in this world — whence we derive that the sanctity of Sabbath is of a kind with that of the world to come. And thus is it written (Psalms 92:1) "A psalm, a song for the day of Sabbath" — for the world which is all Sabbath.

Texts in conversation

Compare John 7:22 and Mekhilta d'Rabbi Ishmael 31:13

New Testament · Rabbinic

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Summary

In John, Jesus notes that Jewish tradition permits circumcision on the Sabbath and argues that healing should also be allowed. Rabbinic discussions in the Mekhilta use similar logic to settle tensions between Sabbath rules and covenant duties.

Passages

John 7:22

New Testament
19 Hasn’t Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law! Why do you want to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You’re possessed by a demon! Who is trying to kill you?” 21 Jesus replied, “I performed one miracle and you are all amazed. 22 However, because Moses gave you the practice of circumcision (not that it came from Moses, but from the forefathers), you circumcise a male child on the Sabbath. 23 But if a male child is circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses is not broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to external appearance, but judge with proper judgment.”
90–110 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in John

Mekhilta d'Rabbi Ishmael 31:13

Rabbinic · Halakhic Midrash
R. Yishmael and R. Elazar b. Azaryah and R. Akiva were once walking on the road, with Levi Hasadar and R. Yishmael the son of R. Elazar b. Azaryah walking behind them, when this question was asked: Whence is it derived that the saving of a life overrides the Sabbath? R. Yishmael responded: It is written (Ibid. 22:1) "If the thief be found breaking in, etc." — If in such an instance, where it is doubtful whether he is coming to steal or to kill, and the spilling of blood defiles the land and causes the Shechinah to depart, he is permitted to kill the thief to save his life — how much more so does the saving of life override the Sabbath! R. Elazar b. Azaryah responded: If circumcision, which includes only one of a man's organs, overrides the Sabbath, how much more so all of his body! R. Akiva says: If the saving of a life overrides the sacrificial service, which overrides the Sabbath, how much more so does the saving of a life override the Sabbath! R. Yossi Haglili says: "My Sabbaths shall you keep": "but" ("ach," before "My") "divides," i.e., there are Sabbaths that you override, and there are Sabbaths that you rest. R. Shimon b. Menassia says (Ibid. 14) "And you shall keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you" — Sabbath is given to you and you are not given (i.e., "surrendered") to the Sabbath. R. Nathan says (Ibid. 16) "And the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath to observe the Sabbath for their generations": Desecrate one Sabbath in order to keep many Sabbaths.
135 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Mekhilta d'Rabbi Ishmael

References

"... In John, Jesus alludes to the halakic regulations that allow for circumcision on the Sabbath; is aware of the custom of using stone jars for the waters of purification; knows the Palestinian manna traditions of the Jewish haggadah and the significance of the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles and the water poured in front of the altar. The designations used for Jesus reflect the categories that come from the Scriptures and the world of first-century Judaism ..."
Marianne M. Thompson, "Word of God, Messiah of Israel, Savior of the World" in Gaventa, Beverly Roberts, and Richard B. Hays, ed. Seeking the Identity of Jesus: A Pilgrimage (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2008), 170.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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John 7:22 and Mekhilta d'Rabbi Ishmael 31:13

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