Where's the crime?

[Athetotheist]

While they were in the wilderness, the Israelites found a man picking up sticks on the sabbath. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. Then the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
(Numbers 15:32-35)

And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath
(Mark 2:27)

Why would a deity who made a sabbath for man and not man for a sabbath command the execution of a man for gathering sticks on a sabbath?

[Wootah]

[Replying to Athetotheist in post #36]

I'm trying to make you rational enough to continue debating with.

Im not always debating with you but the puzzle. If there 8is a further aspect I haven't covered let me know and I'll reply.

The questions are still unanswered.

Are they part of the puzzle?

If it [cutting of the hand of a thief] were commanded in the Bible, would you still think it wrong?

If stealing doesn't warrant such a severe punishment, how does gathering sticks on the wrong day warrant a more severe punishment?

How does a death sentence for gathering sticks on the wrong day ever make sense?

Can you imagine a scenario in which the enemy is accommodating enough to threaten you only on a sabbath?

To be clear, I meant that MY questions were still unanswered.

What in your mind does the Bible command of Christians?

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to 1213 in post #40]

Exactly as it is written includes everything that is actually written, also the parts you seem to want to ignore.

How does exactly what's written include anything else when nothing is supposed to be added to it?

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to Wootah in post #41]

What in your mind does the Bible command of Christians?

It doesn't matter what the Bible commands in my mind; it's about what the Bible commands in the text, and that's what I'm evaluating.

[1213]

[Replying to 1213 in post #40]

Exactly as it is written includes everything that is actually written, also the parts you seem to want to ignore.

How does exactly what's written include anything else when nothing is supposed to be added to it?

Th Bible is in a way instructions. And to understand instructions properly, one should read the whole instructions before acting. If you read only one line, it is possible that you don't understand how something should be understood. And one crucial thing is, the Bible does not give the right to be a judge for everyone. And those who are lawful judges, should understand this:

Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother.
Zech. 7:9

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to 1213 in post #44]

If you read only one line, it is possible that you don't understand how something should be understood.

If one line in a book of law says that nothing is to be added to the book, the only way to understand it is that it's telling you to go by what's written in the book and nothing beyond that.

And one crucial thing is, the Bible does not give the right to be a judge for everyone. And those who are lawful judges, should understand this:

Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother.
Zech. 7:9

If that's the case, should any man's brother be sentenced to death for gathering sticks on the wrong day?

[Wootah]

[Replying to Wootah in post #41]

What in your mind does the Bible command of Christians?

It doesn't matter what the Bible commands in my mind; it's about what the Bible commands in the text, and that's what I'm evaluating.

Great!

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... ersion=NIV

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

That's what the Bible commands.

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to Wootah in post #46]

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

That's what the Bible commands.

Actually, Jesus doesn't get this quite right. The command is:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength".
(Deuteronomy 6:5)

[1213]

If one line in a book of law says that nothing is to be added to the book, the only way to understand it is that it's telling you to go by what's written in the book and nothing beyond that.

Yes, and if you go only by what is said in the book, you can't really say "man's brother should be sentenced to death for gathering sticks on the wrong day".

If that's the case, should any man's brother be sentenced to death for gathering sticks on the wrong day?

I don't think Bible tells people should be sentenced to death just because gathering sticks.

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to 1213 in post #48]

If that's the case, should any man's brother be sentenced to death for gathering sticks on the wrong day?

I don't think Bible tells people should be sentenced to death just because gathering sticks.

But the Bible tells us that someone was sentenced to death for gathering sticks, and gathering sticks on the wrong day is the only reason given for the sentence.

[Difflugia]

I don't think Bible tells people should be sentenced to death just because gathering sticks.

But the Bible tells us that someone was sentenced to death for gathering sticks, and gathering sticks on the wrong day is the only reason given for the sentence.

Not only that, but the sentence was passed down by the literal voice of Yahweh.

Numbers 15:32-36

And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses, Aaron, and all the congregation. And they put him under guard, because it had not been decided what should be done to him. And Yahweh said to Moses, "The man shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp." And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, as Yahweh commanded Moses.