Numbers 15:32-36

Instructions for Sabbath observance

32 When the Israelites were in the desert, they found a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day.

33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses, Aaron, and the entire community.

34 They placed him in custody, because it wasn't clear what should be done to him.

35 Then the LORD said to Moses: The man should be put to death. The entire community should stone him outside the camp.

36 The entire community took him outside the camp and stoned him. He died as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Numbers 15:32-36 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.