In the list of people who are prohibited from working on Shabbos, the Vilna Gaon notes that every one begins with a connecting “vov” – “and” – except for the servant. He therefore suggests a brilliant and original way of re-reading the verses based on a Gemora in Berachos (35b).
The Gemora states that when a Jew is doing what Hashem’s will, then he will merit that his work will be done for him by others, but when he is transgressing Hashem’s will, then he will have to do his own work. We can therefore interpret as follows: somebody who only remembers Shabbos in his mind (zachor es yom haShabbos l’kadsho) but doesn’t keep it in action will therefore have to work hard, as it says sheishes yamim ta’avod v’asisa kol melachtecha – six days he will have to work and do all of his labor.
On the other hand, if he doesn’t merely think about Shabbos but actually keeps it and makes it Holy in accordance with its laws (v’yom hashevi’I Shabbos l’Hashem Elokecha), then he and his family members won’t have to work even during the week – lo sa’aseh kol melacha atah u’vincha u’vitecha. If so, one may ask, how will he possibly live and who will take care of him if he and his family never do any work? To that the Torah answers that there will be others, such as servants and foreigners, to do his work for him, with the connecting “vov” left out to indicate that this is indeed a new list and a separate category – avd’cha v’amascha uv’hemt’cha v’ger’cha asher bish’arecha!
“Zachor es yom haShabbos l’kadsho sheishes yamim ta’avod v’asisa kol melachtecha v’yom hashevi’I Shabbos l’Hashem Elokecha lo sa’aseh kol melacha atah u’vincha u’vitecha avd’cha v’amascha uv’hemt’cha v’ger’cha asher bish’arecha (20:8-10)”
