Definition: And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Numbers 15:36. It’s a really important part of Jewish tradition and has some serious implications about how we treat people who are different. Here's what it means in simple terms: The Basic Situation: Imagine a group of Jewish people were gathered together, and they decided to completely exclude someone – let’s call them “David” – from being part of their community. They threw stones at him, and he suffered greatly. They did this because they felt David was not ‘clean enough’ for their group. Let's unpack it: “Numbers 15:36” : This is a passage from the Old Testament, specifically the Book of Numbers. It’s describing a very serious incident in ancient Jewish history. “And all the congregation brought him without the camp…” : This means a large group of people – maybe hundreds or even thousands – came together and didn't let David stay with them. They weren't welcoming him; they were excluding him. “…and stoned him with stones…” : This is the key part. The people physically attacked and kicked David, hurling stones at him. They were deliberately trying to harm him. “And he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.” : David died. The Jewish tradition says that God instructed Moses (a leader in the Jewish community) to do this. It was a punishment for this exclusion and violence. What’s the point of this verse? This story is about: Discrimination: It highlights a very difficult thing – prejudice and hatred based on someone's background, identity, or differences. It shows that people can be cruel and act unjustly towards others simply because they are different. The Importance of Community: The verse emphasizes the importance of community and accepting each other, including those who aren’t like us. It suggests that we should treat everyone with respect and kindness, regardless of their differences. God's Justice: It also points to God's judgment when people are unkind and act in a way that hurts others. In short, this verse is a reminder that we should always strive to be inclusive and compassionate towards those who are different from us. Important Note: This story is rooted in a very harsh period of history, and it’s important to remember the suffering involved. It's a cautionary tale about the dangers of prejudice and hatred. --- Do you want me to explain any aspect of this verse in more detail? For example, I could go into: The historical context (what was happening at the time?) The meaning behind "stoning" as punishment? How this story relates to modern-day issues of discrimination and prejudice?