Did the ancient Israelites keep the Sabbath
while they were in Babylonian captivity?

Q. Did the ancient Israelites keep the Sabbath while they were in Babylonian captivity?

A. The Bible does not address this question explicitly. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the two books that say the most about the lives of Israelites (from the Kingdom of Judah, which was composed of the tribes of Judah, Levi and Bejamin) in exile are Daniel and Esther, and neither one discusses Sabbath observance. Nothing is stated in the Old Testament as to whether what is known the Northern Ten Tribes of Israel (known as the Kingdom of Israel), which went into Assyrian captivity in 723 B.C., kept the Sabbath or not.

The Scriptures do teach, though, that neglect of the Sabbath was a major factor leading to the Babylonian captivity (which began in 586 B.C.). Jeremiah and Ezekiel, prophets of the generation that went into exile, both state this:

"Thus says the Lord:  'Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the SABBATH DAY, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;  nor carry a burden out of your houses on the SABBATH DAY, nor do any work, but hallow the SABBATH DAY, as I commanded your fathers.  But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction.'

"'And it shall be, if you heed Me carefully,' says the Lord, 'to bring no burden through the gates of this city on the SABBATH DAY, but hallow the SABBATH DAY, to do no work in it, then shall enter the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, accompanied by the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain forever . . .'

"'But if you will not heed Me to hallow the SABBATH DAY, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the SABBATH DAY, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.' " (Jeremiah 17:21-25, 27, NKJV throughout)

"Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, "Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:  "Have you come to inquire of Me?  As I live," says the Lord GOD, "I will not be inquired of by you . . . "'" "'Therefore I made them go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness . . .  Moreover I also gave them MY SABBATHS, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.  Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness . . . ' "But I said to their children in the wilderness . . . I am the Lord your God:  Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them;  hallow MY SABBATHS, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.'  Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against Me;  they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments, 'which, if a man does, he shall live by them';  but they profaned MY SABBATHS . . . "Also I raised My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, that I would SCATTER THEM AMONG THE GENTILES and DISPERSE THEM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRIES, because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, profaned MY SABBATHS, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers' idols." (Ezekiel 20:2-3, 10, 12-13, 18-21, 23-24)		Ezekiel the Prophet Fresco by Michelangelo (1510 A.D.) Sistine Chapel

Daniel was not the only one who heeded the prophets. For example, Nehemiah, the leader of an Israelite community in Jerusalem that had returned from exile, emphasized faithful Sabbath observance in the 13th chapter of the book he wrote. He understood the significant role that Sabbath-breaking had played in the spiritual problems culminating in the exile:

"In those days I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the SABBATH, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the SABBATH DAY.  And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions.  Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the SABBATH to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

"Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them,  'What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the SABBATH DAY?  DID NOT YOUR FATHERS DO THUS, AND DID NOT OUR GOD BRING ALL THIS DISASTER ON US AND ON THIS CITY?  Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the SABBATH.'" (Nehemiah 13:15-18)

In general, the Sabbath would have helped exiles maintain their Israelite identity in the midst of a pagan culture. Groups of Israelites that neglected the Sabbath probably lost their connection with God and became completely assimilated into the surrounding culture within a few generations. On the other hand, some strong, lasting Israelite communities formed in Babylon and Media, so the Sabbath was undoubtedly an integral part of the lives of those communities.

The values and aspirations of faithful Israelites in exile are reflected in the Book of Tobit, a popular story written before 200 B.C. Tobit, the title character, was part of the earlier Assyrian captivity. Celebration of the Feast of Pentecost was part of Tobit's obedient lifestyle in exile (chapter 2). We can imagine that Sabbath observance was held in high regard by many Israelites, both in Palestine and in the Diaspora, who admired and identified with Tobit.

According to a popular Jewish saying, "More than Israel kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath kept Israel." The fact that Israel maintained its identity despite captivity and exile may constitute the strongest evidence that the Sabbath was kept by many Israelites in exile.