Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have sanctity, a day of complete rest to Hashem. (Shemos 35:2).
As we are instructed to build the Mishkan we are reminded of the sanctity of Shabbos. Chazal derive from this juxtaposition that the 39 melachos performed in the Mishkan are prohibited on Shabbos.
We celebrate Shabbos as a day of rest every week on the seventh day. Is this day of rest related to the hard work of the previous week, or is it to gain strength for the following week (after all, one can recite havdala until Tuesday, so Shabbos has a connection to the following week)?
It may seem like an esoteric distinction, but it actually has an impact on a halachic discussion that appears in the Talmud. A question is raised in Messeches Shabbos 69: if an individual is traveling through the desert and loses track of what day of the week it is, when does he observe Shabbos?
According to Rav Huna, that individual is to immediately count six days and the seventh day he is to observe the Shabbos. Chiya bar Rav argues that such an individual would immediately observe the Shabbos and then count six days until the next Shabbos.
The Shem M’shmuel explains the difference in opinions (citing his father the Avne Nezer). Shabbat has two aspects. One that relates to the completion of creation, and another that relates to gathering strength for the future.
Rav Huna subscribes to the view that believes that Shabbos reflects the completion of creation and is a day to rest from the hard work conducted throughout the previous week. Therefore, an individual who lost count of the days of the week should count six days and then “earn” a Shabbos.
Rav Chiya bar Rav believes that the first Shabbos was observed the day after man was created, and so it is the first day that one should observe when lost in the desert. After Adam Harishon transgressed, he was able to rest on Shabbos and regain his strength and ability to persevere and rebuild for the following week.
These two aspects of Shabbos are reflected in the luchos as well. In Parshas Yisro, when Shabbos is described in the first luchos, it is related to the six days of creation. In Parshas Vaeschanan, when Shabbos is described in the second luchos, Shabbos relates to Yetziyas Mitzrayim. Yetziyas Mitzrayim can be viewed in a similar fashion to Adam’s initial transgression. In Egypt, as a people, we sunk to the 39 levels of tumah (impurity). Yetziyas Mitzrayim and later Matan Torah, reinvigorated us spiritually to be able to proceed, as the Shabbos provided strength for Adam Harishon to continue.
As we celebrate Shabbos, we should bear in mind this dual aspect of Shabbos. One the one hand, reflect on the accomplishments and challenges of this past week and utilize the day to be able to recharge our physical and spiritual being so that we can garner the strength to succeed at all our tasks in the upcoming week.
