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Numbers 15:33 - Shabbat desecration: what's the consequence?

Numbers 15:33 - במדבר 15:33

Hebrew Text

וַיַּקְרִיבוּ אֹתוֹ הַמֹּצְאִים אֹתוֹ מְקֹשֵׁשׁ עֵצִים אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל־אַהֲרֹן וְאֶל כָּל־הָעֵדָה׃

English Translation

And they that found him gathering sticks brought him to Moshe and Aharon, and to all the congregation.

Transliteration

Vayakrivo oto hamotz'im oto mekoshesh etzim el-Moshe ve'el-Aharon ve'el kol-ha'edah.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיַּקְרִ֣יבוּ אֹת֔וֹ הַמֹּצְאִ֥ים אֹת֖וֹ מְקֹשֵׁ֣שׁ עֵצִ֑ים אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֙ וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאֶ֖ל כׇּל־הָעֵדָֽה׃
וַיַּקְרִ֣יבוּ אֹת֔וֹ הַמֹּצְאִ֥ים אֹת֖וֹ מְקֹשֵׁ֣שׁ עֵצִ֑ים אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֙ וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאֶ֖ל כׇּל־הָעֵדָֽה׃

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Parasha Commentary

The Incident of the Mekoshesh Eitzim

The verse (Bamidbar 15:32-33) describes an incident where a man was found gathering sticks on Shabbat and was brought before Moshe, Aharon, and the entire congregation. This event raises several important halachic and theological questions addressed by our commentators.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi explains that this incident occurred shortly after the mitzvah of Shabbat was given, serving as a warning to the nation about the severity of Shabbat desecration. The phrase "מְקֹשֵׁשׁ עֵצִים" (gathering sticks) implies he was collecting wood for burning, demonstrating a willful violation of Shabbat melachah.

Halachic Implications

  • The Rambam (Hilchot Shabbat 1:1) derives from this episode that the 39 melachot of Shabbat were transmitted orally at Sinai before being recorded in the Torah.
  • The Talmud (Sanhedrin 78b) discusses why the punishment wasn't immediately clear - demonstrating that capital cases require absolute certainty of both the violation and its intentionality.
  • The Sifrei notes this was a public violation, requiring public response to maintain the sanctity of Shabbat.

Midrashic Insights

The Midrash Tanchuma connects this to the earlier command about tzitzit (15:37-41), teaching that just as tzitzit remind us of mitzvot, so too must we be vigilant about Shabbat observance. Some suggest the wood-gatherer was testing the boundaries of halacha, making his public correction necessary.

Theological Significance

This episode demonstrates:

  • The seriousness of Shabbat as a foundational mitzvah
  • The principle that halacha requires proper transmission and interpretation (thus bringing him to Moshe)
  • The concept that public violations require public response to maintain communal standards

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sanhedrin 78b
The verse is discussed in the context of the laws regarding the Sabbath violator, particularly the case of the wood gatherer (mekoshesh etzim).
📖 Shabbat 96b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the severity of Sabbath desecration and the circumstances under which the wood gatherer was apprehended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What was the sin of the man gathering sticks in Numbers 15:33?
A: According to Rashi and the Talmud (Sanhedrin 78b), the man was violating Shabbat by gathering sticks, which is considered a melacha (forbidden labor) on Shabbat. This was a serious transgression because Shabbat observance is one of the fundamental commandments in Judaism.
Q: Why was the stick-gatherer brought before Moshe and the entire congregation?
A: The Midrash explains that this was the first known Shabbat violation in the wilderness, so they brought him before Moshe and the leaders to establish how to handle such cases. The Torah (Numbers 15:34) states they kept him in custody because they weren't yet sure of the proper punishment.
Q: What lesson can we learn from the story of the stick-gatherer?
A: The Rambam teaches that this incident demonstrates the seriousness of Shabbat observance in Jewish law. Even though the man was just gathering sticks (which might seem minor), it represented a violation of Shabbat laws. This teaches us that all Shabbat prohibitions must be treated with equal gravity.
Q: How does this verse about Shabbat apply to Jews today?
A: Orthodox Judaism maintains the same Shabbat laws today as in biblical times. The 39 categories of forbidden work (melacha) include activities like gathering or harvesting (which the stick-gathering falls under). This reminds us to be careful with all Shabbat laws, even for actions that might seem insignificant.