In the previous chapter, God told the people they would not be allowed to enter the promised land. At least not for another 40 years. The people tried and it ended badly but here at the beginning of this chapter, God is giving a command for what they are to do when they enter the promised land. This seems to me to be a reminder that though they cannot enter the land now there is coming a time when they will be able to. These commands give the people hope after a great defeat.
What do you do with a sabbath breaker? The commands were pretty clear yet it seems the people were not quite ready to do what God had commanded. From what we have just read right before this about sinning in ignorance and defiantly, I have to think this person was doing it defiantly. Yet the people aren't ready to kill a person for breaking the Sabbath. God, however, makes it clear, he must die. This isn't a judgment carried out by one person but by everyone. Everyone was to see what happened and everyone had to take part. There was no hiding from what was taking place. For me, this method both reminded everyone of the consequences of sin and would keep them from ignoring injustice.
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