Moses administered the DEATH penalty for a poor man who collected firewood on the sabbath ?

Question

"While the Israelites were in the desert, a man was discovered gathering wood on the Sabbath day. Those who caught him at it brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly. But they kept him in custody, for there was no clear decision as to what should be done with him. Then the Lord said to Moses, "This man shall be put to death; let the whole community stone him outside the camp." So the whole community led him outside the camp and stoned him to death as the Lord had commanded Moses." Numbers 15:32-36 NAB

Answer 1

Personally i think that the people who wrote the old testament were wayyyy off the mark. There is still some good stuff in there but in lots of points they are wrong. The new testament is the good stuff :-)

Answer 2

So what is your actual question?

The Hebrews were VERY serious about keeping Sabbath holy and they didn't do any labor. Only prayed in the temple and taught their children about YHVH. They didn't cook, didn't gather wood, didn't even start a fire for warm. There are Jews today that take the Sabbath serious as well. I have a friend that has a Jewish friend in chicago. They live 8 blocks from the synagogue. On Sabbath they don't drive their car any where. In all types of weather, the entire family walks to service. Driving is considered labor, cooking is labor. The wife makes food the day beforehand and has cold foods, like salads and she doesn't even make coffee. Boiling water is labor. So collected wood 1000s of yrs ago would have been against the 3rd commandment given by YHVH and was to be punished.

Personally, I think death is too much of punishment but I truly think that some Jews and most CHristians do not keep their holy days truly holy. Going to church for one hour isn't enough.

Answer 3

Yes he did, and the Moses gang executed judgments against the Midianites, too.

Angels obey God unflinchingly, killing thousands with one stroke. And let us not forget the angel that struck Herod and be died of worm-infestation.

There is more, and God never rebuked anyone for being too severe with the wicked. And the Bible says He will in no ways acquit the guilty. That means if you eat a fruit he said not to, you may get kicked out of Edenville Apartments.

I keep the Sabbath, it was made for man. You won't find me choppin' firewood on the Sabbath. Suppose if He said to chop wood all day, I'd wonder why, but trusting and obeying God is not so hard--He's just asked us to not work and that is easy to comply with.

You see, the Sabbath will be kept throughout eternity. See Isaiah 66:23

God's judgments are real, and He will not acquit the guilty. He has written a Bible code as one last chance. read it at http://abiblecode.tripod.com

Blessings, One-Way

Answer 4

we don't understand each and every of the small print of this tale, so there could have been info that could desire to have made this account extra palatable and comprehensible to us on the instant. The long and the wanting it, however, is that God had forbidden artwork on the Sabbath. the guy violated the regulation by way of gathering timber, and God commanded Moses to make an occasion of the guy. At this early degree, it became considerable to no longer set a precedent of ignoring the regulation. the guy knew the regulation that God had given, and he chosen to disobey that regulation, understanding the implications. this could not be construed as an endorsement of capital punishment in on the instant's international, by way of the way. we don't stay in a theocracy, and we are coated by way of God's grace, no longer certain by way of the regulation. This tale is only a demonstration of ways heavily God needs us to take His be conscious. there is no longer something in the Bible to show that on the instant's governments have an identical relationship to God, or the authorization to punish in the same way.

Answer 5

why are you still stupid Today"that's the old day's Pooh' now its the New Testament,the old laws of Sabbath Day in the Old Testament ask the jews if they still following the Sabbath Day and how come Today there is work even Saturday and Sunday all over the world and no one is being sentence?is it because of New Time Trend of Modern Society Did you read The New Testament what is it said about the Sabbath Day?

Answer 6

At that time, there was no forgiveness of sin and gathering wood or doing any other kind of work on the sabbath was one of God's Ten Laws. (Commandments) Man was judged by God for what he did rather than for what was in his heart as is the case with the Christian concept of Jesus dying so that we might have God's forgiveness. It was a harsh judgement but it was just at the time as the man deliberately broke the law.

Answer 7

It's hard in our society and time to imagine how important the sabbath is to God. Living in the Age of Grace has made us forget how strict God was in the Old Testament and how swiftly He made His point. He demanded obedience from Israel, if they were to be sheltered under Him. Keeping the Sabbath was strickly enforced. It was a day of emptying your mind of worldly concerns and consecrating yourself to God. I don't think anyone at the time considered the man a "poor" man or victim in any way. In fact, he was looked upon with outrage and shame because he defiled the Sabbath. Stoning one to death for disobedience to God was quite common to the people of the time and though it sounds harsh to us, it wasn't to them.
Here they are in the desert, traveling to a promised land after years of captivity, because Moses directed by God, convinced them it was time to pack up and go. How would all those people survive the land, the harsh travel, the weather, etc. unless God provided for them........and He did. In that situation they learned to listen to God and do what He said in order to survive and get to the land He promised them. This guy didn't trust God....he took it upon himself to gather wood because he didn't trust God to provide....his unbelief cost him his life. Actually, it is the same today, but we don't see it so graphically displayed everyday. God has stepped back and allowed a "Grace Period" whereby we can come to Him of our own accord. He patiently waits with open arms. But He doesn't force anyone. All who come to Him and believe Jesus, His only Son, paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, was buried and rose again, conquering death, hell, and the grave............will be saved. He is long-suffering, willing that none should perish. So, until the final day of waiting is over, all mankind has a chance to be saved before it's too late. No one knows when the time will be over except God.
The man in this passage knew God promised to provide for him and his family, but he chose not to believe God. His death was brought on by his unbelief. His unbelief caused him to take it a step farther and break the Sabbath.

Answer 8

And so "true." One problem many HAVE, and that is "distinquishing" which LORD they are doing the will "of." The "Lord" of the "hebrews" ISN'T the Lord in heaven, though many believe he IS, and throughout their "books" he is proclaimed to be. But he "is not," and has never BEEN the Father in heaven. He is the God called Adonai, Baal, Seth, and "SATAN" and the proof is in the QUALITY he looks for in his PROPHETS. One day COUNT how many of these ancient hebrew "prophets" and "kings" were MURDERERS and you will have the ANSWER to "who" their "Lord" IS......................AND Jesus was NOT of this "Lord."

Answer 9

it was a law to do nothing on the sabbath day. i'm not sure what the reference is for it though.

Answer 10

I bet no one ever accused Moses of being weak on crime.