The Seventh Day Sabbath Part 8: A Sabbath Days Journey

Many of us may be familiar with the term “a sabbath days journey”. But you may not know exactly what it means, how to apply it or where it is mentioned. So let’s dig in and clarify some of the details.

Acts 1:12 KJV

Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

Here we see that the disciples returned unto Jerusalem from the mount called “Olivet”. But we also find it was “a sabbath day’s journey” away. Where did they get this from to come to this conclusion? It is found in a couple of passages.

Exodus 16:4-5 KJV

Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. [5] And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.

The Most High was feeding our people in the wilderness by “raining bread from heaven” usually caused by a mist followed by rapid growth. But the sixth day he wanted them to gather twice as much, but let us see what he says in reference to the seventh day.

Exodus 16:28-30 KJVS

And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? [29] See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. [30] So the people rested on the seventh day.

The seventh day he wanted us to abide in our place, don’t use the sabbath day to go out and try to gather. This is one of the scenarios that is a supporting factor in understanding a sabbath days journey. It is meant to be a limited distance that is traveled. Which when put in application would limit us from going a great distance on the sabbath day. Need it be by walking, driving etc. And although the means of transportation may differ there is a point in time with either that this now reaches a point of being burdensome on either the mind, body or both. And takes away from the law of “resting” on the sabbath day.

Joshua 3:1-4 KJV

And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. [2] And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; [3] And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. [4] Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

Here we find that there was a general space that all Israel (with the exception of the Levites) had to maintain from the ark of the covenant. Which essentially stood at the center of our camp. And was the epicenter of worship. In addition to sacrifices and offerings. So this would be the approximate distance one would travel to offer some type of sacrifice or offering even on the sabbath day. Which became a standard of measurement for the distance one could reasonably travel on the sabbath day. And one would generally avoid traveling much greater distance on the sabbath day. Now to find out about this distance let us get a few definitions.

SABBATH DAY'S JOURNEY. The distance between the tents and the ark in the camp, which was 2000 cubits. The common cubit of 18 inches would be 3000 feet, and the sacred cubit of 19.05 inches would be 4,762 feet. The English mile is 5,280 feet.

• A new and complete Bible dictionary (1873)

Sabbath Days Journey. A journey of limited extent which the scribes thought a Jew might travel on the sabbath without breaking the Law (Acts 1:12). Such a journey was 2,000 cubits (3,000 feet) from one’s house or domicile, a distance derived from the statement found in Joshua 3:4 that there was to be that much distance between the ark and the people on their march. The rabbis, however, devised a way of increasing this distance without infringing the Law by depositing some food at the 2,000-cubit limit, before the sabbath, and declaring that spot a temporary residence.

• Zondervan Compact Bible Dictionary

Depending on the type of cubit used you are getting a little over half a mile to a mile in walking distance. This should serve not as an exact figure in this day and age but rather a gauge that I wouldn’t walk (or run) five plus figures to get to class on the sabbath day. That would more than likely be seen as excessive. But if one had to walk two point five miles to class one could argue that may be reasonable. Same with driving, yes I may need to make a thirty minute or hour drive to class from my location. But four hours may now be seen as excessive and not what you may want to do on the sabbath day.

Numbers 35:1-8 KJVS

And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, [2] Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them. [3] And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts. [4] And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about. [5] And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities. [6] And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. [7] So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs. [8] And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.

The Levites were to have cities among all of the tribes of Israel. And the cities where to be in the center of the various cities Israelites had within the land of Israel and within the specific tribal land allotments. Think of them like capitals, or rather city halls. And notice the same general spacing of about 2,000 cubits is used. And they had about 48 cities in total throughout the whole land of Israel. This was to ensure on the sabbath day all of the people had a place to worship within a reasonable distance. They were not traveling 200 miles to go to class every week or even 50 miles.

Acts 18:19-21 KJVS

And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews. [20] When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not; [21] But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

You may have to do what Paul did in this instance. Make your travel arrangements ahead of time. Stick to them, and leave when you need to leave so you can arrive at your destination before that particular feast or holy day. Now I am sure in context he was not going to keep the seventh day sabbath but rather one of the high holy days but I am using this to note the planning and preparation.

We can use all of this information to know that travel on the sabbath day is and should be limited. I cannot say if you travel further that the English mile of 5,280 feet are in sin. But rather use these figures as a gauge or guideline to understand that I should avoid walking any long distance on the sabbath day if and when possible. By making plans aead of time, looking for a closer congregation or opting out to drive or get a ride. And if the distance then is still far I should follow the same thought process as mentioned; leave ahead of time, or look for a camp closer to me. But not drive a distance that can become mentally or physically taxing as to avoid “work” and be in error of failing to “rest” as a result. And that this is not a hard line per say, like don’t drive over 30 miles or an hour, or don’t walk over a mile or longer than 10 minutes but rather one of those grey areas that requires good sense and judgement based on what we know of the scriptures and how we should apply it based on that knowledge. Like me picking up a piece of paper I dropped on the floor compared to me cleaning up my whole living room on the sabbath. One is within reason, the other is excessive.