share torah logo

Numbers 15:32 - Shabbat desecration's severe consequence?

Numbers 15:32 - במדבר 15:32

Hebrew Text

וַיִּהְיוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר וַיִּמְצְאוּ אִישׁ מְקֹשֵׁשׁ עֵצִים בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת׃

English Translation

And while the children of Yisra᾽el were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks upon the sabbath day.

Transliteration

Vayihyu venei-Yisrael bamidbar vayimtzeu ish mekoshesh etzim beyom haShabbat.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיִּהְי֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַֽיִּמְצְא֗וּ אִ֛ישׁ מְקֹשֵׁ֥שׁ עֵצִ֖ים בְּי֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃
וַיִּהְי֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַֽיִּמְצְא֗וּ אִ֛ישׁ מְקֹשֵׁ֥שׁ עֵצִ֖ים בְּי֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

The Incident of the Mekoshesh Eitzim

The verse (Bamidbar 15:32) describes an incident where Bnei Yisrael found a man gathering sticks on Shabbos in the wilderness. This episode raises several important halachic and theological questions that are addressed by our Sages.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi explains that this incident occurred shortly after the mitzvah of Shabbos was given at Marah (Shemos 15:25), showing the seriousness of Shabbos violation. He notes that the Torah doesn't specify the man's name to teach that his identity is less important than the lesson about Shabbos observance.

Halachic Considerations

  • The Rambam (Hilchos Shabbos 1:1) derives from this incident that melacha (forbidden labor) on Shabbos is punishable by skilah (stoning) when done intentionally with witnesses.
  • The Talmud (Sanhedrin 78b) discusses why this particular case required divine clarification - to teach that gathering sticks constitutes a violation of the melacha of "me'amer" (gathering).
  • The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 18:20) states this occurred right after the command of tzitzis (15:37-41) to show that just as tzitzis remind us of mitzvos, Shabbos serves as a fundamental sign of our covenant with Hashem.

Spiritual Lessons

The Sforno explains that this public violation so soon after receiving the Torah demonstrated the need for strong boundaries around Shabbos observance. The Kli Yakar adds that being in the midbar (wilderness) - a place of spiritual refinement - made this transgression particularly egregious.

Why Sticks?

Rabbeinu Bachya suggests the man gathered sticks either for construction (violating boneh - building) or for kindling (violating mav'ir - burning). The Netziv in Ha'amek Davar posits this was a test case to establish clear parameters of Shabbos observance for the nation.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sanhedrin 78b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the laws of capital punishment, specifically regarding the case of the wood gatherer on the Sabbath.
📖 Shabbat 96b
The verse is cited in a discussion about the types of labor prohibited on the Sabbath, with the wood gatherer's act serving as an example of a violation.
📖 Bava Batra 119b
The verse is mentioned in a broader discussion about the inheritance rights of the daughters of Zelophehad, connecting it to the timing of events in the wilderness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does the story of the stick-gatherer in Numbers 15:32 teach us about Shabbat?
A: This verse teaches the seriousness of Shabbat observance in Jewish law. The man gathering sticks violated the Torah's prohibition against melacha (creative work) on Shabbat. According to Rashi and the Talmud (Sanhedrin 78b), this incident demonstrated that Shabbat desecration could carry severe consequences, establishing the importance of keeping Shabbat holy.
Q: Why was gathering sticks on Shabbat considered such a serious offense?
A: The Rambam explains (Hilchot Shabbat 7:1) that gathering wood is one of the 39 categories of prohibited work (melacha) on Shabbat, as it was part of the process of preparing materials for the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The Talmud (Shabbat 73a) lists wood-gathering under the category of 'reaping,' making it a Torah-level prohibition with serious consequences.
Q: What was the punishment for gathering sticks on Shabbat in this story?
A: The continuation of the narrative (Numbers 15:35-36) explains that the man was put to death by stoning after Hashem instructed Moshe that this was the appropriate punishment. The Midrash (Sifrei) explains this showed the seriousness of willfully violating Shabbat laws in front of witnesses after proper warning.
Q: How does this story apply to Shabbat observance today?
A: While we no longer administer capital punishment, this story reminds us of Shabbat's sanctity. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 242:1) derives from this that we must be extremely careful about Shabbat observance. The Chofetz Chaim taught that this incident reminds us that even seemingly small Shabbat violations can have serious spiritual consequences.
Q: Why does the Torah mention this happened 'in the wilderness'?
A: Rashi explains this emphasizes that even in the difficult wilderness conditions, the laws of Shabbat still applied fully. The Sforno adds that being in the wilderness - away from normal society - made the violation more brazen, showing the man's disregard for Torah law even when not under social pressure to work.