They put him in custody, until the will of the Lord should be declared to them.
KJV
And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them.
Commentary
Commentary
And they put him in ward,.... In some prison, a place known in the camp, as Aben Ezra observes:
that the mind of the Lord might be shewed them; for, though this was a breach of the third command, in which God declares he would not hold such an one guiltless,
Exo 20:7
; yet no particular punishment being expressed, it was not a clear case whether the Lord would punish for it himself, by an immediate stroke of his hand, or whether by the civil magistrate; and if by the latter, in what manner; for though it might be concluded, without any hesitation, that he was worthy of death, since cursing father or mother was death,
Exo 21:17
; and much more blaspheming God, yet what death to put him to they might be at a loss about; or if that was understood of stoning, they might think this deserved a sorer punishment, and therefore consulted God about it.
Commentary
Commentary