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§153.9 It might be supposed that for the women to go to the tomb on the Sabbath was a violation of the commandment for rest on the Sabbath. In order to understand their action, we must go back to Luke 23:56b. Luke 23:56b should really be the first verse of chapter 24, that is, the beginning of chapter 24 should read like this:
And, on the one hand, they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment, but on the other hand, on the first of the Sabbaths, at deep dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.§160§154 You will remember that there were two Sabbaths in the last week of our Lord's public ministry, the Passover Sabbath, which was called "The Sabbath" (Lev. 23:11), and the weekly Sabbath. Also, there were commandments for resting on both of these days.§161
They may make ready [of the Sabbath] all that is needful for the dead, and anoint it and wash it, provided that they do not move any member of it. They may draw the mattress away from beneath it and let it lie on sand that it may be the longer preserved; they may bind up the chin, not in order to raise it, but that it may not sink lower. So, too if a rafter is broken they may support it with a bench or with the side pieces of a bed that the break may grow no greater, but not in order to prop it up. They may not close a corpse's eyes on the Sabbath; nor may they do so on a weekday at the moment when the soul is departing; and he that closes the eyes [of the dying man] at the moment when the soul is departing, such a one is a shedder of blood" (Shabbath 23.5).§156 From this we can see that the women who went to anoint the body on the Sabbath were allowed to do what they did according to the Jewish interpretation of the Law. Furthermore, to check on the body on the third day was almost considered a legal requirement. For death did not legally occur until the third day among the Jews. For this reason, the traditional Friday-Sunday Chronology does not satisfy the Jewish legal definition for death.§163
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought§164 spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first of the Sabbaths they came upon the tomb, the sun having risen.§158 So the women bought the spices when the Passover Sabbath was over, that is, on Friday, the weekly preparation. They prepared them, and then on the weekly Sabbath they took them to the tomb to anoint the body (see Fig. 22). Note that the women avoided actual preparation of the spices on either Sabbath, and also note that Yayshua had already been embalmed by Joseph and Nicodemus; so the women's intent with the spices was for a final last minute application. It should be also noted that halakhah was much less strict on women concerning the Sabbath than on men (though I would disagree with this); it is thus argued that time related commands (like the sabbath) do not apply to women in some Jewish circles.
§160 The Greek here is typical of men
... de constructions. The usage contrasts the two Sabbaths.
§161 Exodus 20:8-11; Leviticus 23:7.
§162 The legal justification for this
would be the law of mercy, i.e. "I desire mercy not sacrifice;" grieving
friends and relatives must be allowed to pay last respects.
§163 This is why the two witnesses lie
dead for 3 1/2 days.
§164 Sometimes mistranslated "brought."
§165 It would be highly unusual for
women to work at night, or to buy anything at night in this culture.
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