The bible doesn't make sense

[FearGod]

Let me ask you some questions, because I think if you reply to these questions, you get an answer as to why some of the Laws do not make sense without saying the Book got corrupted.
Question: According to Quran, when the Jews did not keep the Sabbath Law, God told them: "Be Apes". So the Question is, why God does not say "Be Ape" to Muslims for not keeping the Sabbath Law? Second Question: Do you think it is reasonable that just for working on Sabbath Day God tells them "Be Ape"?
Third Question: are the Muslims required to keep the Sabbath? If not, why God asked the Jews before?

I don't agree that working on Saturday is a rational reason to kill or to curse anyone.

I wonder how you believe on such things to be real and you still believe on God, is it just a blind faith,honestly saying and just talking about myself,if i'll know such things to be real with proof,then i'll reject the concept of God at once.

How you believe that God may issue a law to murder someone who work on Saturday.

Didn't you know that Jesus fought that stupid law.

Sorry,i don't find an evidence that God were talking about just breaking a law of not working on Saturday.

O ye people of the Book! believe in what We have now sent down, fulfilling that which is with you, before We destroy some of your leaders and turn them on their backs or curse them as We cursed the people of the Sabbath. And the decree of God is bound to be fulfilled. (4:47)

 

[bobhikes]

Many verses in the bible doen't make any sense which makes me to believe that the bible was corrupted.

Matthew 4
8 Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him
all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 and he said unto him,
All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

On a high mountain he could see the whole world.
The Satan tempted God to worship him.

Matthew 5
22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[a] will be
liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council;
and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell[c] of fire.

If you say to your brother "you fool" then the punishment is hell fire


Matthew 5
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of
divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife,
except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery,
and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Marrying a divorced woman is an adultery


Will add more verses, please share by adding verses which you think of it to be irrational.

You seem to understand it well. They are complete sentences and make rational thought. I would say they make sense but you don't like what they say.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

I don't agree that working on Saturday is a rational reason to kill or to curse anyone.

How do you explain the following verse of Quran:

"You know about those of you who broke the Sabbath, and so We said to them, ‘Be like apes! Be outcasts!’" al-Baqarah 2:65

What does it mean "breaking Sabbath"? What is Sabbath?

I think the following verse of Quran gives us a hint, what Sabbath is:

"And ask them about that town which stood by the sea: how its people would profane the Sabbath whenever their fish came to them, breaking the water's surface, on a day on which they ought to have kept Sabbath -because they would not come to them on other than Sabbath-days! Thus did We try them by means of their [own] iniquitous doings." al-A`raf 7:163

The above verse makes it clear, God gave the sabbath Law to Test them. Those who truly believe would obey the Law of God. So, their fish appeared only on the Sabbath Day, and those people went fishing on the Sabbath Day, and breaking the Law of God. Therefore through these Laws God tests. It is not about making sense or not to our limited small human mind. It is God's Wisdom, and He Does what He Wills. To none is given the right to question His Authority and Laws.

 

[FearGod]

How do you explain the following verse of Quran:

"You know about those of you who broke the Sabbath, and so We said to them, ‘Be like apes! Be outcasts!’" al-Baqarah 2:65

What does it mean "breaking Sabbath"? What is Sabbath?

I think the following verse of Quran gives us a hint, what Sabbath is:

"And ask them about that town which stood by the sea: how its people would profane the Sabbath whenever their fish came to them, breaking the water's surface, on a day on which they ought to have kept Sabbath -because they would not come to them on other than Sabbath-days! Thus did We try them by means of their [own] iniquitous doings." al-A`raf 7:163

The above verse makes it clear, God gave the sabbath Law to Test them. Those who truly believe would obey the Law of God. So, their fish appeared only on the Sabbath Day, and those people went fishing on the Sabbath Day, and breaking the Law of God. Therefore through these Laws God tests. It is not about making sense or not to our limited small human mind. It is God's Wisdom, and He Does what He Wills. To none is given the right to question His Authority and Laws.

If you want to know the truth then hope you'll have it and hope that you know arabic and i think you do.

Forgot the english translation and even the explanations of the scholars and depend just on yourself in order to understand the verse correctly.

(7:163)
وَاسْأَلْهُمْ عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ الْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ


وَاسْأَلْهُمْ : ask them
عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ : about the village
الَّتِي كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ الْبَحْرِ : which was located near the sea
إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ : when they go to rest

Please note sabath is from the arabic word "sabt" which means to rest and relax

إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ : the fish will came during their rest
وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ : and when they go for it,it didn't come.
كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُمْ : and so we curse them
بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ : for the immoral things they used to do

 

[Sees]

If you want to know the truth then hope you'll have it and hope that you know arabic and i think you do.

Forgot the english translation and even the explanations of the scholars and depend just on yourself in order to understand the verse correctly.

(7:163)
وَاسْأَلْهُمْ عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ الْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ


وَاسْأَلْهُمْ : ask them
عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ : about the village
الَّتِي كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ الْبَحْرِ : which was located near the sea
إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ : when they go to rest

Please note sabath is from the arabic word "sabt" which means to rest and relax

إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ : the fish will came during their rest
وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ : and when they go for it,it didn't come.
كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُمْ : and so we curse them
بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ : for the immoral things they used to do

Another red flag for Islam... if Arabic is needed to understand God's message why are we born not understanding it already...sloppy work.

 

[Pegg]

The bible can clearly say divorcing your wife unjustifiably and marrying another woman is illegal and marrying another is an adultery.

But to say it without mentioning any reasons isn't rational.

if you were to read the entire account, you would see the reason quite clearly. But you havnt read the account you've only read one single verse...how can you make a proper judgement when you havnt read the entire thing???

Matthew 19:3*And Pharisees came up to him, intent on tempting him and saying: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on every sort of ground?” 4*In reply he said: “Did YOU not read that he who created them from [the] beginning made them male and female 5*and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh’? 6*So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has yoked together let no man put apart.” 7*They said to him: “Why, then, did Moses prescribe giving a certificate of dismissal and divorcing her?” 8*He said to them: “Moses, out of regard for YOUR hardheartedness, made the concession to YOU of divorcing YOUR wives, but such has not been the case from [the] beginning. 9*I say to YOU that whoever divorces his wife, except on the ground of fornication, and marries another commits adultery.”

Good that you know the feelings of Jesus at those times.
Did Jesus tell you such facts in your dreams ?

No, his apostles told us these things by writing them down as a record for us to learn by. Jesus was very close to God, why? Because he held to the same views as God....and thats what we should be striving to do also.

But sins are forgiven by your faith and Jesus sacrificed by killing himself for you,so no problem with adultery,people always do sins,it is inherited,right.

sins will only be forgiven if a person is truly repentant over their sins. Jesus sacrifice is for the repentant ones...not for those who sin wilfully.

And if his wife was a playgirl , a lair and not caring about her husband and she loved another guy and spent days outside house, divorcing her and marrying another woman is an adultery.

Thats why i believe that the bible was corrupted.

God is much wiser than this.

i disagree with your reasoning.

Hope that you can find answers for the rest of verses that i have mentioned.

what if it is the man who is a playboy and doing such things? What if he marries another woman besides his wife and brings her home and puts her in his wife's bed?

Is that not a man committing adultery??

I think God is much more righteous then men and the bible reflects Gods righteousness which is why it upholds the sanctity of marriage as one man and one woman who become 'one flesh'

 

[FearGod]

if you were to read the entire account, you would see the reason quite clearly. But you havnt read the account you've only read one single verse...how can you make a proper judgement when you havnt read the entire thing???

Matthew 19:3*And Pharisees came up to him, intent on tempting him and saying: “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife on every sort of ground?” 4*In reply he said: “Did YOU not read that he who created them from [the] beginning made them male and female 5*and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh’? 6*So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has yoked together let no man put apart.” 7*They said to him: “Why, then, did Moses prescribe giving a certificate of dismissal and divorcing her?” 8*He said to them: “Moses, out of regard for YOUR hardheartedness, made the concession to YOU of divorcing YOUR wives, but such has not been the case from [the] beginning. 9*I say to YOU that whoever divorces his wife, except on the ground of fornication, and marries another commits adultery.”

Yes i read it entirely multiple times and it doesn't make any sense to me

No, his apostles told us these things by writing them down as a record for us to learn by. Jesus was very close to God, why? Because he held to the same views as God....and thats what we should be striving to do also.

Striving to be as one flesh, i think no need to strive for it as God made them to be as one flesh and nothing gonna separate them.

sins will only be forgiven if a person is truly repentant over their sins. Jesus sacrifice is for the repentant ones...not for those who sin wilfully.

So do you think if a boy making love with his girlfriend in daily basis and have faith on Jesus won't be saved by Jesus.

what if it is the man who is a playboy and doing such things? What if he marries another woman besides his wife and brings her home and puts her in his wife's bed?

Is that not a man committing adultery??

Yes many men doing that, so she has the right to separate and will find a honest husband and she and him can be as one flesh as well.

I think God is much more righteous then men and the bible reflects Gods righteousness which is why it upholds the sanctity of marriage as one man and one woman who become 'one flesh'

That can't be true, not all marriages are successful.

 

[Pegg]

Yes i read it entirely multiple times and it doesn't make any sense to me
Striving to be as one flesh, i think no need to strive for it as God made them to be as one flesh and nothing gonna separate them.

but something does separate them.... divorce.

So what you say you dont understand, you've understood completely. Husbands and wives are supposed to become 'one flesh'

divorce and remarriage stops that 'one flesh' from continuing.

So that is why Jesus and the prophets taught that divorce is not what God wants people to do.

So do you think if a boy making love with his girlfriend in daily basis and have faith on Jesus won't be saved by Jesus.

not if they are committing fornication, no.

Yes many men doing that, so she has the right to separate and will find a honest husband and she and him can be as one flesh as well.

That can't be true, not all marriages are successful.

they are successful if both partners do the right thing and show love to each other.

But if they fail to show proper love, then they likely will fail....but thats not Gods fault is it?

 

[FearGod]

but something does separate them.... divorce.

So what you say you dont understand, you've understood completely. Husbands and wives are supposed to become 'one flesh'

divorce and remarriage stops that 'one flesh' from continuing.

So that is why Jesus and the prophets taught that divorce is not what God wants people to do.

What im talking about is the reality.

The divorce isn't just a word but it is a decision taken by 2 when they can't stay together anymore.

How do you want 2 persons hating each others to sleep together as husband and wife.

I wonder that we are in the 21th century and you think it is normal for 2 persons to stay together while they can't live together in harmony.

What about if her husband was so bad and aggressive and she wanted to be free and to start a new life.

not if they are committing fornication, no.

How do you know ?
Are you God ?

they are successful if both partners do the right thing and show love to each other.

But if they fail to show proper love, then they likely will fail....but thats not Gods fault is it?

It isn't God's fault, it may be the husband or the wife or both but the question is why they have to be forced to stay together otherwise they are adulterers if separated and marry again.

and since you started the debate in defending the verses as to be rational then explain this please.

Matthew 5
22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[a] will be
liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council;
and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell[c] of fire.

How just to say "you fool" for your brother is liable for punishment in the hell fire

 

[Pegg]

What im talking about is the reality.

the reality is that mankind are sinful and do the wrong thing...they dont live as God wants them to live.

But shouldnt our goal be to change our sinful habits and strive to be the way God wants us to be?

Isnt this why the prophets came teaching us in the first place? If their purpose is not for teaching us how to better ourselves, then what was the point of God sending them?

The divorce isn't just a word but it is a decision taken by 2 when they can't stay together anymore.

How do you want 2 persons hating each others to sleep together as husband and wife.

I wonder that we are in the 21th century and you think it is normal for 2 persons to stay together while they can't live together in harmony.

perhaps they should not have married in the first place...although i know in some cultures, women are forced to marry men they dont like. But its not God forcing them to marry....again its an issue of men and their sinful nature.

What about if her husband was so bad and aggressive and she wanted to be free and to start a new life.

God tells men not to be bad and aggressive. And if the man improves his life by listening and applying the teachings of the prophets, then he will not be bad and aggressive and his wife will be happy with him.

I think what you are doing is giving in to our imperfect sinful nature rather then trying to improve it. Isnt' it better to improve our life rather then allow sin to dominate us?

and since you started the debate in defending the verses as to be rational then explain this please.

Matthew 5
22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[a] will be
liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council;
and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell[c] of fire.

How just to say "you fool" for your brother is liable for punishment in the hell fire

God has told us that we must love our neighbour... that is our obligation. God will judge those who fail to show love to their neighbour and how we 'think' about our neighbour and how we speak of them or how we speak to them shows whether we 'love' them or not. Name calling shows that we have a hatred for them. Hatred is what God wants us to stop because it leads to violence, divorce, war and abuse.

If more people did do as God required of them, there would be a lot less warfare and killing and trouble in our world. Does that not sound reasonable to you?

 

[FearGod]

the reality is that mankind are sinful and do the wrong thing...they dont live as God wants them to live.

But shouldnt our goal be to change our sinful habits and strive to be the way God wants us to be?

Isnt this why the prophets came teaching us in the first place? If their purpose is not for teaching us how to better ourselves, then what was the point of God sending them?

No, the prophets came as warners.

It isn't the teachings that make one good or bad.

There are religious people who have accused children and they have already memorized the teachings of your father in heaven, while there are people who are atheists and don't believe in God and still have much morals than the religious ones.

I am talking about reality.

perhaps they should not have married in the first place...although i know in some cultures, women are forced to marry men they dont like. But its not God forcing them to marry....again its an issue of men and their sinful nature.

Australia ranked #7 which among the highest in divorce rate, were they forced to marry ?

Reference : Divorce rate statistics - Countries Compared - NationMaster

God tells men not to be bad and aggressive. And if the man improves his life by listening and applying the teachings of the prophets, then he will not be bad and aggressive and his wife will be happy with him.

I think what you are doing is giving in to our imperfect sinful nature rather then trying to improve it. Isnt' it better to improve our life rather then allow sin to dominate us?

The fact and reality is that bad guys always do exist, but your dreams is great.

God has told us that we must love our neighbour... that is our obligation. God will judge those who fail to show love to their neighbour and how we 'think' about our neighbour and how we speak of them or how we speak to them shows whether we 'love' them or not. Name calling shows that we have a hatred for them. Hatred is what God wants us to stop because it leads to violence, divorce, war and abuse.

If more people did do as God required of them, there would be a lot less warfare and killing and trouble in our world. Does that not sound reasonable to you?

So you agree that saying "fool" to your brother is liable for punishment in hell fire.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

If you want to know the truth then hope you'll have it and hope that you know arabic and i think you do.

Forgot the english translation and even the explanations of the scholars and depend just on yourself in order to understand the verse correctly.

(7:163)
وَاسْأَلْهُمْ عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ الْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ


وَاسْأَلْهُمْ : ask them
عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ : about the village
الَّتِي كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ الْبَحْرِ : which was located near the sea
إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ : when they go to rest

Please note sabath is from the arabic word "sabt" which means to rest and relax

إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ : the fish will came during their rest
وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ : and when they go for it,it didn't come.
كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُمْ : and so we curse them
بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ : for the immoral things they used to do

So far you showed a translation. But you haven't explained verse 2:65 yet.

 

[FearGod]

So far you showed a translation. But you haven't explained verse 2:65 yet.

Sorry that I missed it.

وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ الَّذِينَ اعْتَدَوْا مِنْكُمْ فِي السَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا قِرَدَةً خَاسِئِينَ

As you can see the verse here is not talking about the same people whom were living near the sea that God punished them in their livelihood because of their lechery.

The verse is about a group of people that had made an aggression (اعْتَدَوْ&#1575while people in the rest day, so God transformed them to a vile Apes.

 

[Mycroft]

You're right, the Bible doesn't make sense.
As you would expect of a chaotically cobbled-together anthology of disjointed documents, composed, revised, translated, distorted and 'improved' by hundreds of anonymous authors, editors and copyists, unknown to us and mostly unknown to each other, spanning nine centuries

 

[InvestigateTruth]

Forgot the english translation and even the explanations of the scholars and depend just on yourself in order to understand the verse correctly.

Here I commented on your translation. Please clarify the parts I have questions. Thank you.

وَاسْأَلْهُمْ : ask them

I agree.

عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ : about the village

I agree.

الَّتِي كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ الْبَحْرِ : which was located near the sea

I agree.

إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ : when they go to rest

How did you know يَعْدُونَ means "they go"?
I think it means they transgressed. See any dictionary and show where it can mean 'They go" as you translated.

Please note sabath is from the arabic word "sabt" which means to rest and relax

Could be.

إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ : the fish will came during their rest

It could be. All other translations in the link, translates " يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ" as "Day of their Sabbath"

وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ : and when they go for it,it didn't come.

How did you know لَا يَسْبِتُونَ means "They go for it"? لَا is for negating.
You just said سْبِتُ, means to rest. But now you translated the word with the same root as "They go". Please explain.

كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُمْ : and so we curse them

It could be.

بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ : for the immoral things they used to do

I agree.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

Sorry that I missed it.

وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ الَّذِينَ اعْتَدَوْا مِنْكُمْ فِي السَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا قِرَدَةً خَاسِئِينَ

As you can see the verse here is not talking about the same people whom were living near the sea that God punished them in their livelihood because of their lechery.

How did you know the verse is saying God punished them for their 'Lechery"? Which word in the verse tells us their sin was lechery?

The verse is about a group of people that had made an aggression (اعْتَدَوْ&#1575while people in the rest day, so God transformed them to a vile Apes.

But in your previous translation you wrote:

إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ : when they go to rest

So, please explain how here you translated يَعْدُونَ as "They go", while "اعْتَدَوْا" which is from the same verb, as "that had made an aggression "?

 

[FearGod]

Here I commented on your translation. Please clarify the parts I have questions. Thank you.

How did you know يَعْدُونَ means "they go"?
I think it means they transgressed. See any dictionary and show where it can mean 'They go" as you translated.

No it doesn't mean aggression but it is very close to it.

it means preparing or ready to work or to go ..etc

يَعْدُونَ - Arabic - English Translation and Examples

It could be. All other translations in the link, translates " يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ" as "Day of their Sabbath"

it doesn't mean Saturday but it means day of rest, it can be any day.
Note سبتهم and not السبت

How did you know لَا يَسْبِتُونَ means "They go for it"? لَا is for negating.
You just said سْبِتُ, means to rest. But now you translated the word with the same root as "They go". Please explain.

"Not resting" means "going to work", not = لا and يسبتون as verb means resting

 

[FearGod]

How did you know the verse is saying God punished them for their 'Lechery"? Which word in the verse tells us their sin was lechery ?

I was talking about verse (7:163) and comparing it to verse (2:65)

I said by comparing both

As you can see the verse here(2:65) is not talking about the same people whom were living near the sea(7:163) that God punished them in their livelihood because of their lechery.

So, please explain how here you translated يَعْدُونَ as "They go", while "اعْتَدَوْا" which is from the same verb, as "that had made an aggression "?

The difference that change the whole meaning is one letter which is ت

يعتدي - Arabic - English Translation and Examples

 

[FearGod]

More irrational verses

Matthew 21:21
And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea’, it will happen.


Matthew 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

No it doesn't mean aggression but it is very close to it.

it means preparing or ready to work or to go ..etc

يَعْدُونَ - Arabic - English Translation and Examples

I think you have used a meaning from modern Arabic. It is universally known that the classical Arabic would be somewhat different than the modern Arabic.
But i think, it becomes clear by comparing these verses:


وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَهُمُ الطُّورَ بِمِيثَاقِهِمْ وَقُلْنَا لَهُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ لَا تَعْدُوا فِي السَّبْتِ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا


"And We caused the Mount to tower above them at (the taking of) their covenant: and We bade them: Enter the gate, prostrate! and We bode them: Transgress not the Sabbath! and We took from them a firm covenant" an-Nisa` 4:154

وَاسْأَلْهُمْ عَنِ الْقَرْيَةِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةَ الْبَحْرِ إِذْ يَعْدُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ إِذْ تَأْتِيهِمْ حِيتَانُهُمْ يَوْمَ سَبْتِهِمْ شُرَّعًا وَيَوْمَ لَا يَسْبِتُونَ لَا تَأْتِيهِمْ كَذَٰلِكَ نَبْلُوهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ al-A`raf 7:163


It is obvious that when the phrase "لَا تَعْدُوا فِي السَّبْتِ" is translated as "do not transgress Sabbath", likewise the phrase "يَعْدُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ" must be also translated as "they transgressed the Sabbath". Because if we say يَعْدُونَ فِي السَّبْتِ means "they go to rest" as you said, then لَا تَعْدُوا فِي السَّبْتِ would also mean "do not go to rest", which makes the translation meaningless.
Therefore it becomes clear "The Sabbath" is a Law that God asked them not to transgress.
Now with regards to verse 2:65:

وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ الَّذِينَ اعْتَدَوْا مِنكُمْ فِي السَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا قِرَدَةً خَاسِئِينَ al-Baqarah 2:65


It is obvious that according to Quran, those who transgressed "The Sabbath", God told them "Be Apes".
Now does that make any sense?