Numbers 15:34

Although it was clear that the man was guilty, the community might have been unsure about his punishment. The death sentence was appropriate because ignoring the Sabbath showed a rejection of God's gracious covenant with Israel (Exodus 31:12–17). It was similar to blasphemy (Numbers 15:30; Leviticus 24:10–16; compare 1 Timothy 1:20).

This story gives an example of what Numbers 15:30–31 teaches. The Sabbath was the Lord’s holy day. The people were not allowed to ignore it or treat it as unimportant (Exodus 20:8–11; 31:14–15; 35:1–3).

Chapters 1–14 cover a short time period, but chapter 15 marks the start of a long period. This is the main part of the forty years in the wilderness, about which little is known. There are references to events during this time (for example, Deuteronomy 8:2–6; 29:5–6; Joshua 5:4–8; Ezekiel 20:10–26; Amos 5:25–26; Acts 7:42–43).

During this period, Moses continued to give laws to guide Israel’s life as a nation. These laws would be especially important in the future. They were meant for the day when the people who survived the wilderness would enter the promised land.

This chapter addresses three main types of laws. Numbers 15 is in the middle of stories about a stubborn and disobedient Israel. It offers hope that the promised land still waited for the next generation of Israel’s people.