ייִדישער מחשבֿה אויף יחזקאל 20:12

Some problems in the text of our Parshah. 1) Why is the word "My Sabbath days" in the plural? Since the reference is to a single day, namely the seventh day of the week, the reference cannot be to G-d. Also, since the verse continues in the singular i.e. "it is a sign," we are evidently speaking about that Sabbath only, not other holy convocations that do not qualify for the description ot, sign! 2) Why does the Torah repeat here once more what has been discussed in the previous Parshah, i.e. "observe the Sabbath...he who desecrates it shall be executed?" We find the same repetition in connection with the paragraph of "va-yechullu." 3) How can the words "whosoever desecrates it will be executed," (i.e. by a human tribunal) be followed by "whosoever performs work on that day, his soul will be cut off from his people," (suggesting death by heavenly tribunal Exodus 31, 14-15.) How does one statement lead to the other? 4) Since the objective of the Sabbath legislation is rest, inactivity, why is it always linked with the order "six days you shall work?" The reason cannot be to "permit" work on the six days, since there had never been reason to believe that it was forbidden. Although our sages in Mechiltah 20, commented that it means that even thinking about work is forbidden on the Sabbath, the statement is repeated too frequently not to have additional meaning. 5) If, as explained traditionally, the words "remember the Sabbath" and "observe the Sabbath" were uttered at Mount Sinai simultaneously, why did the Torah not record both expressions each time the text of the ten commandments is recorded in the Torah?