Exodus 31:16 Commentary: Sforno, Or HaChaim, Rabbeinu Bahya & Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael

וְשָׁמְר֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת לַעֲשׂ֧וֹת אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֛ת לְדֹרֹתָ֖ם בְּרִ֥ית עוֹלָֽם׃

Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Sforno on Exodus

ושמרו במי ישראל את השבת, in this life, לעשות את השבת, on a day that is totally Shabbat. [the afterlife. Ed]
Ask a RabbiBookmarkShareCopy

Or HaChaim on Exodus

ושמרו בני ישראל את השבת, "The children of Israel shall observe the Sabbath, etc." Why did the Torah add another "observance?" Besides, why does the Torah use the verb לעשות, "to do," which expresses an activity when the meaning seems to be that the children of Israel are to observe the Sabbath by "abstaining" from a number of activities? Our sages have pursued their own path in explaining this wording.
Ask a RabbiBookmarkShareCopy

Rabbeinu Bahya

Ask a RabbiBookmarkShareCopy

Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael

Available for Premium members only