Numbers 15:34

34 And they put him under watch because it was not made clear what should be done to him.

Numbers 15:34 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 15:34

And they put him in ward
In a certain prison in the camp; perhaps the same in which the blasphemer was put, ( Leviticus 24:12 ) ; and for much the same reason:

because it was not declared what should be done to him:
that is, what kind of death he should die, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra; it had been before declared that the sabbath breaker should die, but not what death he should die, ( Exodus 31:15 ) ( 35:2 ) ; though some think it was a matter of doubt whether gathering of sticks was a breach of the sabbath, or at least such a breach of it as required death; and the answer of the Lord seems to confirm this sense, as follows.

Numbers 15:34 In-Context

32 When the {Israelites} were in the desert, they found a man who was gathering wood on the day of the Sabbath.

33 The ones who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses, Aaron, and to all the community.

34 And they put him under watch because it was not made clear what should be done to him.

35 And Yahweh said to Moses, "Surely the man must be put to death by stoning him; all the community [must stone him] with stones from outside the camp."

36 So the entire community brought him out to a place outside the camp, and {they stoned him to death} just as Yahweh commanded Moses.