Ask Grandpa: Definition of a Sabbath Day’s Journey

Ask Grandpa
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Grandpa,
In the Book of Acts, Luke tells Theophilus that Jerusalem is a Sabbath Day’s journey from the Mount of Olives. That does not help me to know the distance. I have looked it up on (the internet) and can’t find any definitive answer to my question about what a Sabbath Day’s Journey is.
Grandpa says; It is about 750 yards as the crow flies. The walking distance is a lot longer. The term refers to the distance a person was allowed to travel from home on the Levitical Sabbath, the seventh day of the week. When figuring the legal travel distance, the rabbis considered Ex.16:20, “let no man go out of his place” on the Sabbath. This meant not more than 2,000 cubits from his house. Why 2,000 cubits? Numbers 35:5 admonishes that the area of a city extends 2,000 cubits from the wall of the city in every direction. It is backed up by Jos. 3:4. It is how far the Israelites had to stay away from the ark when they were on the march. That means the camp was 2,000 cubits from the tabernacle. The rabbis had to allow the people to travel from the camp to the tabernacle for worship. That was the only traveling allowed on the Sabbath. There was no going to visit grandma, or going out to a diner after church, not even a trip to the mall. The Holy Day, the weekly Sabbath, was meant as a day of rest and praise to God. I hope this helps you understand your studies. Bless you.
Grandpa,
I think my husband is trying to get himself fired from his new job. He has been at this factory for four months now and he has hated it from the start. The pay is fair, he gets medical for himself, but they don’t offer it to the rest of the family. And, if he stays a year, he will get two weeks paid vacation time. He complains that the work is too boring. This from a man who can sit for hours in front of a television staring at sitcoms all weekend. He is leaving for work late which means he is getting in late. He refuses any overtime, even mandatory overtime. He brags about getting mouthy with his supervisor. And he now bathes when he gets home instead of before going into work. He says that if he gets fired he can collect unemployment and have the whole Summer off. I say if he gives up his health insurance, I will see to it he needs it.
Grandpa says; I am going to ignore that last sentence. The State’s Attorney loves to toss around the word “premeditated.” It is sad that your husband does not do research on the topic of unemployment compensation. If he is fired for poor performance, he will not be eligible for State checks. That is just how it works. Does he hate this particular job or all jobs? What has been his work history before this job? Is he responsible in other matters of life?
Got something stuck in your craw? Ask Grandpa. Address your letters to Ask Grandpa c/o The Voice, 314 N. Lake Street, Suite 2, Aurora, IL 60506 or send an E-mail to askgrandpa@thevoice.us.

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