Midrash for Shabbat 37:8
ת"ר אין מפליגין בספינה פחות מג' ימים קודם לשבת במה דברים אמורים לדבר הרשות אבל לדבר מצוה שפיר דמי ופוסק עמו על מנת לשבות ואינו שובת דברי רבי רשב"ג אומר אינו צריך ומצור לצידן אפילו בע"ש מותר:
Our Rabbis taught: One may not set out in a ship less than three days before the Sabbath. This was said only [if it is] for a voluntary purpose, but [if] for a good deed,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'a matter of a precept'. ');"><sup>15</sup></span> it is well; and he stipulates with him<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Gentile owner of the ship. ');"><sup>16</sup></span>
Sifrei Devarim
"many days": "days" — two; "many" — three. We are hereby taught that peace is offered for two days, and a third day for the battle. And even though there is no proof for this, there is an intimation of it in (I Samuel 30:1) "And David and his men came to Tziklag on the third day." Variantly: From here it is derived that gentile cities are not besieged fewer than three days before the Sabbath, (so that the siege not extend into the Sabbath); but if the siege began, it is not interrupted. And a sea voyage is not begun fewer than three days before the Sabbath. When is this so? For a long voyage, but for a short one, it is permissible.
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Sifrei Devarim
(We are hereby taught that peace is offered for two days, and a third day before the battle. And so it states: (I Samuel 30:1) "And David Remained in Tziklag for two days." And gentile cities are not besieged fewer than three days before the Sabbath, (so that the siege not extend into the Sabbath); but if the siege began, it is not interrupted. This is one of three lessons taught by Shammai the Elder: A sea voyage is not begun fewer than three days before the Sabbath. When is this so? For a long voyage, but for a short one, it is permissible.)
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