THE fourth of the Ten Commandments given to the sons of Israel through Moses reads this way: “Remembering the sabbath day to hold it sacred,

Ex. 20:8-11.

Some among those Jews went to fanatical extremes in their observance of this day. The Sadducees forbade intercourse on the night of the sabbath. Josephus reports that the Essene sect considered going to the stool a violation of the sabbath. And the Pharisees were incensed because Jesus Christ performed healing works on the sabbath day.​—Mark 3:1-6.

Additional instructions to those ancient Israelites served to clarify this sabbath requirement. “You must not light a fire in any of your dwelling places on the sabbath day.” (Ex. 35:3) Earlier it had been said: “Let nobody go out from his locality on the seventh day.” (Ex. 16:29) Thus definite restrictions as to cooking and travel on the sabbath were placed on the sons of Israel.