Numbers 15 Footnotes

15:32-36 The Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel. Violation of its sanctity was an especially heinous offense, punishable by execution at the hand of members of the community of faith. The penalty may seem inordinately severe by modern standards, especially in light of Jesus’s teaching about the Sabbath in relationship to human well-being (Mk 2:27). But this is a pivotal occasion in Israel’s history, during which the Lord is laying a foundation for Israel’s understanding of itself as his faithful people. He could permit no doubt about the seriousness of his purpose.