Numbers 15:35

Translations

Modern

And the LORD said to Moses, “The man must surely be put to death. The whole congregation is to stone him outside the camp.”

Traditional

And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

Literal

And YHWH said to Moses, “The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside of the camp.”

Latin

Dixitque Dominus ad Moysen: Morte moriatur homo iste: obruat eum lapidibus omnis turba extra castra.

Original

Hebrew

English

And the LORD said to Moses, “The man must surely be put to death. The whole congregation is to stone him outside the camp.”

Notes

Numbers 15:32–36

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).

Numbers 15:1–41

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.

Theme notes and profiles

Moses Violation of the Sacred

Related verses

Acts 7:58
They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Exodus 31:14–15
Keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you. Anyone who profanes it must surely be put to death. Whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from among his people.
1 Kings 21:13
And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
Deuteronomy 21:21
Then all the men of his city will stone him to death. So you must purge the evil from among you, and all Israel will hear and be afraid.
Leviticus 24:23
Then Moses spoke to the Israelites, and they took the blasphemer outside the camp and stoned him. So the Israelites did as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Leviticus 24:14–16
“Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and have all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then have the whole assembly stone him.
Hebrews 13:11–12
Although the high priest brings the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, the bodies are burned outside the camp.
Leviticus 20:2
“Tell the Israelites, ‘Any Israelite or foreigner living in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The people of the land are to stone him.

Parallels

Exodus 31:12–17

People

Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Courts and Trials Criminal Law and Punishment Deuteronomy, Book of Numbers, Book of Sabbath Wilderness Wanderings

Topics

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Returned by the Way to the Red Sea: Sabbath Breaker Stoned Legislation: Supplemental, Concerning Sabbath-Breaking Punishment: Death Penalty for Desecrating the Sabbath Day Punishment: Death Penalty: Executed by the Entire Congregation Punishment: Death Penalty: Stoning Punishments were Inflicted by the People Sabbath: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To The Sabbath: Punishment of Those Who Profane The Theocracy: or Immediate Government by God: Consisted in His: Being the Supreme Judge

Numbers 15:35

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