And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

And they put him into prison, not knowing what they should do with him.

and they place him in ward, for it is not explained what is to be done to him.

And they had him shut up, because they had no directions about what was to be done with him.

And they enclosed him in a prison, not knowing what they should do with him.

Qui posuerunt eum in custodiam: quia nondum patefactum erat quid faciendum esset ei.

Death had indeed been assigned as the penalty Exodus 31:14; Exodus 35:2; but it had not been determined how that death was to be inflicted.

And they put him in ward,.... In a certain prison in the camp; perhaps the same in which the blasphemer was put, Leviticus 24:12; and for much the same reason:
because it was not declared what should be done to him: that is, what kind of death he should die, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra; it had been before declared that the sabbath breaker should die, but not what death he should die, Exodus 31:15; though some think it was a matter of doubt whether gathering of sticks was a breach of the sabbath, or at least such a breach of it as required death; and the answer of the Lord seems to confirm this sense, as follows.

They - That is, Moses and Aaron, and the seventy rulers. What should be done - That is, in what manner he was to be cut off, or by what kind of death he was to die, which therefore God here particularly determines: otherwise it was known in general that sabbath - breakers were to be put to death.