This verse, Numbers 15:34, describes a situation where a man was caught gathering wood on the Sabbath. The Israelites were unsure how to punish him because God had forbidden work on the Sabbath, but the specific penalty for gathering wood was not yet explicitly stated.
Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
"They put him in custody": This means the man was arrested or detained. They held him prisoner.
"because it had not been declared what should be done to him": This is the key part. The people knew he had broken the Sabbath law by working, but the law regarding Sabbath violation had not yet specified what the consequence should be. They were waiting for God to provide instructions on how to deal with this particular infraction.
In essence, the verse highlights a gap in the existing law. It demonstrates that the Israelites were committed to following God's instructions precisely, but they needed further clarification to know how to apply the Sabbath law to this specific act. The situation emphasizes the importance of clear laws and procedures, and the reliance on divine guidance in the absence of such clarity.
Following this verse, God does indeed provide instruction: The next verse (Numbers 15:35) states that God instructed Moses to have the man stoned to death outside the camp, thus establishing a specific punishment for Sabbath violation.
This verse, Numbers 15:34, describes a situation where a man was caught gathering wood on the Sabbath. The Israelites were unsure how to punish him because God had forbidden work on the Sabbath, but the specific penalty for gathering wood was not yet explicitly stated.
Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:
"They put him in custody": This means the man was arrested or detained. They held him prisoner.
"because it had not been declared what should be done to him": This is the key part. The people knew he had broken the Sabbath law by working, but the law regarding Sabbath violation had not yet specified what the consequence should be. They were waiting for God to provide instructions on how to deal with this particular infraction.
In essence, the verse highlights a gap in the existing law. It demonstrates that the Israelites were committed to following God's instructions precisely, but they needed further clarification to know how to apply the Sabbath law to this specific act. The situation emphasizes the importance of clear laws and procedures, and the reliance on divine guidance in the absence of such clarity.
Following this verse, God does indeed provide instruction: The next verse (Numbers 15:35) states that God instructed Moses to have the man stoned to death outside the camp, thus establishing a specific punishment for Sabbath violation.