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Why did HaShem create Shabbos? He doesn't need rest!

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4 Answers

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The application of the verb 'resting' to God is one specific instance of the general problem of language that attributes actions or attributes to God. This general problem is the main topic of Part I of the Guide of the Perplexed. For the specific chapter of the Guide dealing with the verb 'to rest', see Part I, chapter 67.

In the chapter, the Rambam deals separately with the three pertinent verbs: va-yishbot, va-yannach, and va-yinnafash. For each, he suggests readings in which the meaning is not 'resting' in the sense of recovering from being tired.

'Va-yishbot' might mean ceasing from some activity, so, ceasing from the activity of creation. For 'va-yannach', the Rambam quotes Bereishit Rabbah parsha 10, which says it means 'caused to rest', i.e., He caused His world to have rest. He also suggests the possibility of it meaning that He caused the world to begin to exist in a stable way, as opposed the supernatural processes which had occurred during creation. For 'va-yinnafash', he sees it as meaning, 'He had His will fulfilled.'

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Can you summarize the Rambam's explanation in your answer? – Michoel Oct 4 '12 at 20:29
Ok, I tried to. – paquda Oct 4 '12 at 20:47
+1​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ – Michoel Oct 4 '12 at 20:49
up vote 2 down vote

He created shobbos for us to elevate us, not him!

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I remember reading somewhere that Hashem only rested on the first shabbos, to show Adam how it was done. But on all subsequent shabbatot, He works hard keeping the world going.

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yes, and we should give it to him! i think we have made him worry and work too hard already! I dont think a day off is enough after few thousand years of work! We dont have to punish him for our bad economy! So stop already with all these wars! i hope one will rise up and apologize so we can live in peace!

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This question could be improved if you could prove or give a source that G-d needs rest, and how stopping wars would give G-d rest – b a Oct 3 '12 at 4:53
do you agree that g-d cares about us? so if we are hurting each other, and he cares about us. would it not let him feel better if we stopped? The way to relate to G-d really is through one's self. if we, as small as we are comparing to g-d, are bothered by people dying, how do you think someone who cares so much more about us would feel! – lilyan Oct 3 '12 at 6:19
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@lilyan Presumably He'd feel best if we all followed His command. That would be the simplest thing to do. – Double AA♦ Apr 14 at 23:11

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