Did Israel travel on the Sabbaths and on the appointed times of YHVH?
Question: Did Israel travel on the Sabbaths and on the appointed times of YHVH?
Answer: Most likely they did not travel, because the children of Israel guarded the Duty of YHVH. We read thus,
At the mouth of Yehovah the children of Israel departed, and at the command of Yehovah they camped. They remained camped as long as the cloud dwelt above the Dwelling Place. Even when the cloud lingered many days above the Dwelling Place, the children of Israel guarded the Duty of Yehovah, and did not depart. (Num 9:18-19)
Whether Israel might rest many days, a month, a few days, or only from evening till morning, they guarded the Duty of YHVH (Num 9:19 and Num 9:23), i.e., they observed what was their duty to observe towards Him (see also Lev 8:35). This Duty intended to awaken the consciousness of the people not only of the absolute dependence of Israel upon the guidance, but also of the gracious care of YHVH throughout all their journey in the wilderness.
YHVH has given the Sabbath day as a sign between Him and His people.
And you, speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘My Shabbats you are to guard, by all means, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, to know that I, Yehovah, am setting you apart. (Exo 31:13)
Also, the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to Yehovah, to serve Him, and to love the Name of Yehovah, to be His servants, all who guard the Shabbat, and not profane it, and are holding onto My covenant – them I shall bring to My set-apart mountain and let them rejoice in My house of prayer. Their ascending offerings and their slaughtering are accepted on My slaughter-place, for My house is called a house of prayer for all the peoples. (Isaiah 56:3-7)
And I also gave them My Shabbats, to be a sign between them and Me, to know that I am Yehovah who sets them apart. … And set apart My Shabbats, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, to know that I am Yehovah your Elohim. (Eze 20:12-20)
So there remains a Sabbath observance (Gr. sabattismos) for the people of Elohim. (Heb 4:9) Read more.
Therefore, it behooves us to observe the Duty of YHVH; it is incumbent to those who call themselves ‘the children of YHVH’ to possess the sign of obedience to the One who sustains us. For all the Duties of YHVH refer to the series of articles The Appointed Times of YHVH.