The week days are termed by the _Hebrew_, חולים _Cholim_, _prophane days_; by the Greek ἐνεργοὶ, _working days_: but when they speak of them altogether, τὸ μεταξὺ σαββάτων, _the space of time between two Sabbaths_.[278] This was the time upon which the _Gentiles_ desired to hear _Paul_ _Act. 13. 42._ In respect of the different degrees of holiness on days, the _Sabbath-day_ is not unfitly compared to a _Queen_, or rather to those whom they termed _Primary wives_; other _Feast days_ to _Concubines_, or _half wives_; _working-days_, to _hand-maids_.
[278] _Scalig. de emend. Temp. l. 6 p. 261. Item Beza in hunc locum._
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._
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.