The Sabbaths began at[279] six a clock the night before: this the Grecians called παρείσοδον σαββάτου the Hebrew[280] Biath haschabbath, the enterance of the Sabbath.
[279] Scalig. de emend. Temp. l. 6. p. 269.
[280] באת השבת
The preparation to the Sabbath begun at[281] three of the clock in the afternoon; the Hebrews called this ערב השבת Gnereb haschabbath, the Sabbath eve. By the ancient Fathers it was called[282] cœna pura; the phrase is borrowed from Pagans, whose Religion taught them in their Sacrifices to certain of their Gods and Goddesses, to prepare themselves by a strict kind of holiness; at which time of their preparation they did pertake of a certain Supper, which as it consisted of choice meats, such as those Heathens deemed more holy than others: so it was eat with the observation of Holy Rites and Ceremonies: Hence they themselves were said at this time of their preparation to be in In casto, and their preparatory Supper termed, Cœna pura. Thus we see the reason why the Fathers called the Sabbath-eve, Cœnam puram. By the Evangelists it was called παρασκευὴ, A preparation, Mark 15. 42. For distinction sake, we may call that fore-time of the day προπαρασκευὴ, A fore-preparation. For the whole day was a kind of preparation, as will appear by the particulars then forbidden. First on this day they might go no more than three Parsas; now a Parsa contained so much ground as an ordinary man might go ten of them in a day. Secondly, Judges might not then sit in Judgment upon life and death, as is shewn in the Chapter of Translation of Feasts.[283] Thirdly, all sorts of Artificers were forbidden to work, only three excepted, shoomakers, Taylors, and Scribes; the two former for repairing of apparel, the other for fitting themselves by study to expound the Law the next day, and these were permitted but half the preparation time to work.
[281] Joseph. Antiq. l. 16. c. 10.
[282] In ritibus Paganorum cœna pura appellabatur; cœna illis apponi solita, qui in casto erant quod Græci dicunt ἁγνεύειν, vel προαγνεύειν. Isaac Casaubon, Exercit. 16, p. 662.
[283] Casaubon. Exercit. 16. p. 479. ex Michlol. Kimchi.
The best and wealthiest of them,[284] even those that had many servants, did with their own hands further the preparation; so that sometimes the Masters themselves would chop herbs, sweep the house, cleave wood, kindle the fire, and such like.
[284] Buxtorf. Synagog. Jud. cap. 10. ex Talmud.
In old time[285] they proclamed the Preparation with noise of Trumpets, or Horns; but now the modern Jews proclaim it by the Sexton, or some under Officer of the Church, whom they call שליח צבור Scheliach tsibbur, The Messenger of the Congregation.