Numbers 15:34

and because it had not been declared what should be done to him, they placed him in custody.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The narrator reports the moment after the congregation brings a wood-gatherer to Moses, Aaron, and the assembly. They hold him in custody because divine instruction regarding his punishment has not yet been given.

The words — The Hebrew verb וַיַּנִּיחוּ (va.ya.ni.chu) literally means "they left" or "they placed," paired with בַּמִּשְׁמָר (ba.mish.mar) "in custody." The clause כִּי לֹא פֹרַשׁ (ki lo fo.rash) states "for it had not been decided" what would be done.

The thread — This temporary detention matches the procedure in Leviticus 24:12, where a prisoner is held until the LORD's will is made clear. It follows the same pattern as Numbers 9:8, where Moses pauses to await direct command before acting.

Why it lands — The text requires a reader to observe that judicial restraint is mandated when explicit divine direction is absent. It establishes that waiting for direct instruction precedes the execution of punishment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיַּנִּ֥יחוּva/i.ya.Ni.chuand/ they left אֹת֖וֹ'o.T/o<obj.>/ him בַּמִּשְׁמָ֑רba./mish.Marin <the>/ custody כִּ֚יkifor לֹ֣אlo'not פֹרַ֔שׁfo.Rashit had been decided מַה־mah-what?יֵּעָשֶׂ֖הye.'a.Sehwill it be doneלֽוֹ׃ סl/oto <the>/ him

King James Version

And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

Cross-references

Leviticus 24:12 They placed him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them.
Numbers 9:8 “Wait here until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you,” Moses replied.