Genesis 2:1-3
1. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
comments:
This part of the Bible has been cited by many, as the start of a tradition of a day of rest every seventh day. Different traditions have varying rules, laws, and guidelines about sabbath observance. 'Sabbath' being the word used in English, meaning a stopping or cessation, or as some would say, rest (in the context of rest being to stop or cease work activity, not to be confused with recreation, which is to actively engage in activity that is specifically non-work).
Notably, the word 'sabbath' is derived from the Hebrew word 'shabbat' (noun) meaning the same thing. I am no scholar of Hebrew, but I have read that the verb is 'shavat' meaning stopped or ceased, and (if I read correctly) was used in this part of the First Book of Moses in its original Hebrew.
I have read of studies done in modern times that suggest it is good for not only humans, but animals and plants and even fields to have periods of rest (as separate from recreation, though many studies suggest that recreation is also, separately, beneficial). [I am certain that anyone wishing to look some up shouldn't have too much difficulty, with internet access or access to a good library]
Now, as I have said before, I am not convinced that that the creation of earth took place in exactly 7 earth days measuring 24 hours by our present-day measurements (nor that all measures of time in Adam and Eve's days were necessarily the same as what we know presently) ...yet, nonetheless, I do believe the creation was divided or organized by God in 7 stages: 6 periods of time each with the work appointed to them, and a 7th being appointed for rest after finishing the previous work.
For all these reasons (at minimum) I personally believe that a symbolic 7-day week with every seventh day being set aside for restful, non-work activity, is a good thing, however you go about observing it.
