Number 15:32-36

When the Israelites were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks¹ on the sabbath day.² Those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses, Aaron, and to the whole congregation.³ They put him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him.⁴

Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him outside the camp.”⁵

The whole congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death,⁶ just as the Lord had commanded Moses.⁷

1 Study Bible suggests that the sin is not gathering the sticks, but the assumed intention to build a fire.

2 In our context, the idea that this could be a major sin is so foreign.

3 They are policing each other.

4 He is to be punished even though the leaders themselves had not known what the punishment for such an act should be.

5 Death by stoning for gathering sticks on the Sabbath. Puts Jesus's disciples gathering grain into perspective!

6 Seems logistically difficult for the “whole congregation” to participate, but perhaps they participate by observing.

7 The congregation shows obedience.


Take-home: Though some still transgress, the congregation in general is acting in obedience again, and the transgressor is put to death.