41 The preterite of the verb “to be” is here subordinated to the next, parallel verb form, to form a temporal clause.
42 For this brief passage, see A. Phillips, “The Case of the Woodgatherer Reconsidered,” 19 (1969): 125–28; J. Weingreen, “The Case of the Woodgatherer (Numbers XV 32–36),” 16 (1966): 361–64; and B. J. Bamberger, “Revelations of Torah after Sinai,” 16 (1941): 97–113. Weingreen argues that there is something of the Rabbinic method of setting a fence around the Law here; in other words, if this sin were not punished, the Law would have been violated in greater ways. Gathering of wood, although seemingly harmless, is done with intent to kindle fire, and so reveals a culpable intent.

In other versions

While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.

While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day.

While the Israelites were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day.

One day while the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they discovered a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day.

When the Israelites were in the desert, they found a man who was gathering wood on the day of the Sabbath.

And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

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