Just a quick one today, thanks to the always well-researched Irreligiosophy podcast. And it is hilarious, for I am not using the title metaphorically.
Let’s start with the tehum. This is a concept in Rabbinic Judaism that places a restriction on how far you can go outside the edge of town on the Sabbath — ie. beyond the city walls. The source for this (considered to be an allusion to an oral law as opposed to a literal commandment) is Exodus 16:29: “See that YHWH hath given you the sabbath; therefore He giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” The source for the 2000 cubits limit is the limit around the Levite cities described in Numbers 32:2-5. Basic details here. Although there are loads of complications in the laws of the tehum, I don’t think it gets that much use these days what with most forms of inter-city transport (cars, planes) being prohibited on the Sabbath anyway.
Now, if you think these laws (or any laws in Rabbinic Judaism) are harsh, you should look at the Essenes! These were a sect in Israel at around the time of Jesus. In fact there are theories he was an Essene. In any case, they were a male-only cult, living apart in a commune and engaging in extremes of self-deprivation and punishment. Naturally they also thought the end was nigh. From the documentation we have, their laws were more stringent than the “do as you please” liberal Pharisee beatniks, which would evolve into Orthodox Jews over the centuries. According to the Essenes, the Sabbath limit was 1000 cubits, not 2000.
However this presented a problem. The Essenes were much more fastiduous with respect to bodily functions. Whilst most people did not think twice to relieve themselves anywhere, these prudes used latrines. Furthermore, it seems these latrines had to be situated outside the “camp” or city, based on Deut 23:12-13, which euphemistically speaks of toilets:
But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall bathe himself in water; and when the sun is down, he may come within the camp. Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad.
I think you can see where this is going. Indeed in Jerusalem, the Essene latrenes were supposed to be positioned just outside the 1000 cubit limit. Which means on the Sabbath, tough luck! Day of rest indeed. And yes, this is well-documented by Josephus amongst others: here by thy proof.
I don’t think I’ll ever find a better example of religious silliness in the whole multiverse. Unless you think something beats this…
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