Exodus 35 · a question people ask
Death for working on the Sabbath? And no fire at all?
The chapter says it plainly: "whoever does any work in it shall be put to death" (35:2), and "You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day" (35:3). It doesn't explain the fire rule. Exodus has already said why the day weighs so much: "it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you" (31:13), and "it is holy to you" (31:14). With the manna, the LORD had told them to get their food ready the day before: "Bake that which you want to bake, and boil that which you want to boil" (16:23). Numbers tells of one man found "gathering sticks on the Sabbath day" (Numbers 15:32), and the LORD said, "The man shall surely be put to death" (Numbers 15:35). When Jesus was asked about his disciples on the Sabbath, he said, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27). Christians read what the Sabbath means for them in different ways; the main views are set out with the Sabbath command in Exodus 20 (20:8-11).
The verses
“‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to the LORD: whoever does any work in it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.’””
““Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. 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 therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.”
“He said to them, “This is that which the LORD has spoken, ‘Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. Bake that which you want to bake, and boil that which you want to boil; and all that remains over lay up for yourselves to be kept until the morning.’””
“While the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. Those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. They put him in custody, because it had not been declared what should be done to him. The LORD said to Moses, “The man shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him with stones outside of the camp.” All the congregation brought him outside of the camp, and stoned him to death with stones, as the LORD commanded Moses.”