Why were Sabbath breakers stoned in the Old Testament?


The Sabbath Law

Sabbath breaking was not the only offense in the Old Testament that required immediate discipline. Adultery (Leviticus 20:10) and blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16) were also offensive sins that required punishment. According to Numbers 15:32, 35, the observance of the seventh day Sabbath of creation was obligatory in the wilderness as in the Holy Land (Exodus 16:27–30), with death as the penalty for its breaking.

The Law stated, “You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death” (Exodus 31:14, 15 also 35:2).

An Incident Of Sabbath Breaking

Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him. Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” So, as the Lord commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died” (Numbers 15:32-36).

In the wilderness, with its warm climate, fires were unnecessary, and were not to be lighted on the Sabbath. So, the gathering of sticks to make a fire was not needed. Therefore, collecting wood for fire was breaking the Sabbath. This act was simply an act of defiance to God’s command (Exodus 16:23; 35:3).

A Lesson For All

The Israelites heard God’s voice declaring the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai (Deuteronomy 4:13).  And they also saw the two tablets of stones that Moses brought down from the mount on which God wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger (Exodus 31:18). So, to disobey the commandment was considered an open rebellion against the clear will of God.

This type of behavior needed an immediate and strict discipline by the Lord. Under the theocracy of Israel, God ruled over the people directly. If the Lord allowed the offender to live, his bad example would have led many more people into the wrong path.

Like the cancer that needs to be cut from the body so that it will not spread and destroy the whole body, God chose to eliminate one soul from the congregation in order to save the whole congregation from the consequences of disobedience and eternal death.

Whom the Lord Loves He Corrects

God loves His children so much that He offered His Son to die on their behalf and redeem them from death. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The Lord declared, “I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live” (Ezekiel 18:32).

But love also disciplines. Paul wrote, “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives” (Hebrews 12:6). Whether it be a child, or an adult, discipline is essential to character. Discipline is an expression of concerned love. Corrections to uplift and perfect character are the best proof of God’s love for man.

For more on the Sabbath, please check (Lessons 91-102) of the Bible Lessons.

In His service,
BibleAsk Team

Leave a Comment