IamJoseph

Many laws in the Mosaic books predated the Hebrews - e.g. the tradition of circumsizion - used also as a mark for a vow [contract/covenant] in the Mosaic. The Babylonion Sabaath [rest day] is similar but also very different. The date given here is 6C BCE, which is post-Hebrew; the Hebrews had no interaction with Babylon till much later in their history, well after David, Solomon and Isaiah - Babylon attacked Israel around 586 BCE when there was internal conflicts.

Also, the babylon rest day is only applicable for the 28th day of the month, not every 7 days - the other 7th days were not so. Monotheism definitely did not come from Babylon, despite that Abraham came to Arabia from Mesopotamia, which adjoined Babylon - he had to flee from a death sentence for advocating the Monotheist belief - a history which followed the Jews for 1000s of years with numerous nations.

Conclusion: the common factors prove contemporary authenticity, while the variance signifies a new turn also.

premjan

I thought the freedom from Babylonian slavery was around this time. Also if they were both Semitic it is likely they had some similar beliefs. Every 7th day was holy whereas every 28th day was a rest day. There is no surprise that there are some differences in practices, but the substantial similarity must be considered indicative. Of course I am not looking at the whole thing from the perspective of an Abrahamic so you're likely to disagree.

IamJoseph

Read further in Wiki:

IOW, they entered Babylon in captivity while having this law, which was followed throughout the first temple period - before that war with Babylon.



That is a fiction, even with Wiki's two qualifications, the Babylonians used this once a month. The broken tablets was never associated with the Shabbat of the reason of this commandment: it predates Moses and is mentioned in Genesis 1/1; and then with the prefix [edit] - asking others to correct if wrong.

Riotous fiction - even for anti-creationists.

premjan

Well, apparently 586 BC is the earliest exact date, but the Imago Mundi is dated to the 6th century BC as well, so it is just a matter of whether or not the date is known precisely, which it wouldn't be given that it is an archaeological artifact.

IamJoseph

I don't disagree - commonalities are legitimate and make it more authentic. Usually, one takes the prevailing traditions to form rituals and festivals - thus I gave the example of circumsizion, which predated Abraham by 1200 years - but the Hebrews never took on board female circumsizion [again a variance here]. IOW, amidst all the natural commonalities, there is also a striking difference - which signifies a turn from a specific space-time, while using the same base of that region.

Many claim that Monotheism was also seen in ancient Egypt - the reverse is the case: Egypt was like Greece and Rome - with numerous mythical deities. At one time, it tried to make the Sun the only deity, for political reasons, and this failed after a few decades. There is no connection here with Abrahamic Monotheism, which was not followed by any nation till Islam emerged: the pre-islamic Arabs followed an array of deities. The Abrahamic changed the world and humanity - and also fostered science by its very notion the universe was finite with a universe maker behind it. Previous to this, the dieties were ascribed with powers limited to certain areas, and who often conducted head bashing battles for supremecy.

IamJoseph

The 586 BCE date for the war between Babylon and Israel is 100% factual, so is the Sabaath followed for centuries before this time factual. The first temple period is not in question by any source.

premjan

Interesting so you consider the origin of science to be Abraham rather than Aristotle. I guess Galileo would tend to disagree.

premjan

Well, I don't know why a seven day week with one rest day in particular is special rather than accidental, but the Babylonians borrowed it from the Sumerians who had a lunar calendar in 2100 BC. Besides the phases of the moon are there for anyone to see, for all anyone knows the people in Stonehenge followed the phases of the moon even if they didn't organize their lives around it.

Species8472

How can you claim they already had that law when this is the earliest evidence they practiced a seven day week?

If you are basing this on the idea that moses actually existed and the exodus (and the writing of the law) took place some 7-800 years earlier, you will be hard pressed to prove this.

andrewcriddle

There is a major difference between celebrating the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day of a month and celebrating every 7th day.

With a 30 day month
The first goes ... 7 14 21 28 37 44 51 58 67 74 81 88
The second goes 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70 77 84

IE since months are not a multiple of seven days in length the two patterns rapidly diverge.

Andrew Criddle