Numbers 15:32-35

A Sabbathbreaker Executed

32 While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man ¹gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.

33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation.

34 ²They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him.

35 And the LORD said to Moses, ³"The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall ⁴stone him with stones outside the camp."

Numbers 15:32-35 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 15

In this chapter the children of Israel are instructed about the meat offerings and drink offerings, and the quantities of them, which were always to go along with their burnt offerings and peace offerings they should offer when they came into the land of Canaan, Nu 15:1-12; and they are told that the same laws and ordinances would be binding equally on them that were of the country, and on the strangers in it, Nu 15:13-16; and an order is given them to offer a cake of the first dough for an heave offering, Nu 15:17-21; and they are directed what sacrifices to offer for sins of ignorance, both of the congregation and particular persons, Nu 14:22-29; but as for presumptuous sinners, they were to be cut off, Nu 14:30,31; and an instance is recorded of stoning a sabbath breaker, Nu 14:32-36; and the chapter is concluded with a law for wearing fringes on the borders of their garments, the use of which is expressed, Nu 14:35-41.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 35:3; See Exodus 20:8, 9
• 2. Leviticus 24:12
• 3. Exodus 31:14, 15
• 4. Leviticus 24:14-16; Joshua 7:25; 1 Kings 21:13; Acts 7:58