Throwing, carrying and other principal and derivative labors are discussed. But the Torah also gives an example of "gathering" which is forbidden.
And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. (Num. 15:32)
That unnamed man is put to death for his crime.
R. Akiva here identifies him as Zelophehad, the father of daughters who challenged the law of inheritance which excluded women - even if there were no brothers to carry on the family name. Their father "died in the wilderness" (Num. 27:3), while unnamed gatherer was found (and executed) "in the wilderness" the rabbis decide that they are one and the same.
But Akiva gets in a bit of trouble for this:
"Said R. Judah b. Bathyra to him, ‘Akiba! in either case you will have to give an account [for your statement]: if you are right, the Torah shielded him (by not naming him), while you reveal him; and if not, you cast a stigma upon a righteous man.’"
Akiva's trouble arrives in part because there is no tradition of this reading. Be careful when you touch someone's reputation - especially a father of daughters!
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