Halakha Ulangan 23:11: The Sabbath Epistle, Mishneh Torah, Negative Mitzvot & Sefer HaChinukh

I investigated further and found that with regard to one who has a discharge in the night or in the day, or one who touches any contamination which renders him unclean, Scripture says “he is unclean until dusk” (Leviticus 22:6), which must be the end of the day. For if the day began with dawn, then one who has a discharge at night should become clean at the end of the “day,” namely, at dawn.

I mention this interpretation to counter the heretics who do not believe the words of our Rabbis that the Sabbath extends from dusk to dusk. The true interpretation is what the Rabbis recorded, namely, that the Sabbath was given at Marah.⁷ “Israel was instructed in ten laws at Marah. Seven of these were accepted by the descendents of Noah. Three additional laws were courts, Sabbath, and respect for parents” (Sanhedrin 56b). The incident at Marah (Exodus 15:22–26) took place before the appearance of the manna (ibid., chapter 16). Scripture mentions “tomorrow” and not “this night,” for Scripture usually speaks of what is common, namely, that people work during the day. The meaning of “holy Sabbath” is that they should rest, and that is what they did, “The nation rested on the seventh day” (ibid. 16:30). In Jeremiah it is written: “to sanctify the Sabbath day by not working on it” (17:24). Moses mentioned “tomorrow,” which is daytime, because he addressed what is common. Similarly, “Man goes out to his activity and to his work until evening” (Psalms 104:23). Likewise, “You should not eat meat that was torn in the field” (Exodus 22:30), although the same prohibition applies to what was torn in a house. Similarly, “an occurrence at night” (Deuteronomy 23:11);⁸ This does not exclude an occurrence of the day. “an ox or a donkey fell there” (Exodus 21:33);⁹ Ox or donkey are not exclusive. and many more in the Torah like these.

That a priest who is unclean shall not enter the courtyard (of the Sanctuary), as it is said, “That they defile not their Camps (in the midst whereof I dwell)” (Num. 5:2-3). This refers to the Camp of the Schechinah (the precincts of the Sanctuary).