In the historical books the Sabbath is generally mentioned merely in passing. Such an occasion is found in the story of the Shunammite woman. (2Ki 4:23 ) And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him today? it is neither new moon, nor Sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.

In 2Kings 11 is the story of the coronation of Josiah. Adam Clarke in his Commentary on the Bible notes the following in regard to the Sabbath in this chapter. “It appears that Jehoiada chose the Sabbath day to proclaim the young king, because as that was a day of public concourse, the gathering together of the people who were in this secret would not be noticed.” The story is repeated in 2Chronicles 23 .

The final mention of the Sabbath in the books of Kings is (2Ki 16:18 ) And the covert for the Sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria.

The books of Chronicles comment more on the legislations in the books of Moses. The first reference relates to the shewbread on the Sabbath. (1Ch 9:32 ) And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every Sabbath.

The special offerings for Sabbaths are also mentioned. (1Ch 23:31 ) And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the Sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number,according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD. (2Ch2:4 ) Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and onthe solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel. (2Ch 8:13 ) Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in theyear, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks,and in the feast of tabernacles. (2Ch 31:3 ) He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings,and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.

Chronicles has just one hint of the moral message attached to the Sabbath in the prophets to be seen later. (2Ch 36:21 ) To fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years.

This idea that neglect of the Sabbath along with the sabbatic land statutes was the reason for the Babylonian captivity colors every mention of the Sabbath in the book of Nehemiah, especially at the end of chapter 13. There was an overriding concern not to cause the same or worse catastrophe Sabbath by neglect of the Sabbath. Nehemiah recognizes that the Sabbath is a direct divine revelation, rather than a Mosaic application. (Neh 9:14 ) And madest known unto them thy holy , and commandedst them precepts,statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant. But Nehemiah does not ignore the ceremonial aspect of the Sabbath. (Neh 10:33 ) For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the Sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.

The Sabbath in the books of Moses is primarily attached to activities of acquiring food. This universal aspect of the Sabbath, as opposed to its ceremonial aspects, is recognized by Nehemiah. He notes that not only harvesting,gathering and preparing food on the Sabbath is forbidden, but also buying it.(Neh 10:31 ) And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the Sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.

There is a deep psychological issue involved in the cessation of food-getting on the Sabbath. That is evident from both the Creation story and the story of the manna, but it comes into its own in Nehemiah as well. The primary purpose of the Sabbath was to counteract the natural inclination of people to consider that they sustained themselves by their own work. The stopping for re-evaluation on the Sabbath was designed to reinforce the realization that people are dependent on the Creator for sustenance.

This aspect of food-getting in relation to the Sabbath is brought out very strongly in chapter 13. (Neh 13:15 ) In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. (Neh13:16 ) There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. (Neh 13:17 ) Then I contended with the nobles of Judah,and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath day? (Neh 13:18 ) Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath. (Neh13:19 ) And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day. (Neh 13:20 ) So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. (Neh 13:21 ) Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath.  (Neh 13:22 ) And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates,to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

The practical aspect of avoiding work to gain one's livelihood on the Sabbath is not well developed in the books of Moses. There is the manna story, and the detail not to gather firewood for cooking, but aside from that the details are sparse. This passage of Nehemiah focuses on transporting and the buying and selling of food as also forbidden.

In summary, the historical books add little to our knowledge of the ceremonial aspects of the Sabbath. But they do enhance our understanding of why we should set aside our daily labors on that day. First of all, the details of transporting and buying and selling food are prohibited, which is a clarification over the books of Moses. The attachment of the Sabbath to the process of food-getting is made more precise, so that we understand how important the Sabbath is in making us understand in a practical way that we are dependent, not on our own work to sustain us, but on the divine blessing and providence that makes that work effective.

It is precisely the relationship of human efforts to gain sustenance on the six working days and the pause to reflect on the reality of constant dependence on Yahuwah for life and nourishment that the Sabbath reveals in a practical way. The failure of Christians to realize that the Sabbath is a practical revelation of our complete dependence on Yahuwah for life is at the root of Christian failure to understand the process of grace in the provision of salvation and eternal life as well.