Halakhah zu Schemot 16:23

Here are honest witnesses that the day begins with dusk. Similarly for all the holidays and the Sabbath, for all are “appointed seasons of God, holy gatherings” (ibid. 23:4). Only the Sabbath is called “a Sabbath for God” (Exodus 20:10, Deuteronomy 5:14), for God rested during Creation. Since both the year and the day are dependent on the sun, for both motions are similar one to another, therefore the seventh year is comparable to the Sabbath day. Hence it is also written with regard to the seventh year “a Sabbath for God” (Leviticus 25:2). Therefore, just as the Sabbatical year begins with the autumn season, so the beginning of the Sabbath day is in that period of the day corresponding to autumn, which begins with dusk.

Do not be puzzled by the verse “tomorrow is a rest, a holy Sabbath for God” (Exodus 16:23), yet Moses did not mention this at dusk.⁵ So it appears that the Sabbath begins with dawn. I will now explain to you this section to ward off the claimant. Be aware that God did not command “do not perform any work” (ibid. 20:10) on the first Sabbath that manna fell. He waited with that proclamation until the day that they stood at Mount Sinai. Since Moses had specified “an omer for each head” (ibid. 16:16), and he instructed “no man may leave over from it until morning” (ibid. 16:19), when on Friday the people gathered two omer, they (the princes) informed Moses (ibid. 16:22) of the matter. Moses responded, “This is what God said” (ibid. 16:23), meaning that God already spoke with me regarding this matter before the raining of the manna when He said, “And it shall be on the sixth day [they will prepare what they have brought, and it will be double what they gathered daily]” (ibid. 16:5). He explained the reason for a doubling of manna was “a rest, a holy Sabbath” (ibid. 16:23), God will rest tomorrow. He did not reveal this secret⁶ The secret that no manna will fall on the Sabbath day. to them nor what they should do with the extra that he instructed them to put aside. In the morning of the Sabbath day Moses said to the people, “this day is a Sabbath to God” (ibid. 16:25), God will not cause manna to rain down, “today you will not find it” (ibid.), do not go out to gather.