Bamidbar 15:34

34 And they put him under custody, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

Bamidbar 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.

Bamidbar 15:34 In-Context

32 And while the Bnei Yisroel were in the midbar, they found a man that gathered sticks on Shabbos.

33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moshe and Aharon, and unto Kol HaEdah.

34 And they put him under custody, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

35 And Hashem said unto Moshe, The man shall be surely put to death; Kol HaEdah shall stone him with avanim outside the machaneh.

36 And Kol HaEdah brought him outside the machaneh, and stoned him with avanim, and he died; as Hashem commanded Moshe.