Exodus 16:26

Six days. These words are similar to those of the fourth commandment of the Decalogue. Here, mention is made not only of the Sabbath as a day of holy rest but also of the days of work preceding it. In God’s plan for man these six working days are of no less significance than is the Sabbath. They have been given to man for his own use. But the seventh day of the week is holy (v. 23). It should be spent in accordance with divinely given regulations as specified in the fourth commandment.

The sabbath. Here the Hebrew text uses the definite article (see on vs. 25, 28). “The sabbath” is a sacred institution ordained at the close of creation week. Even then it was “the” Sabbath (ch. 20:11).