1 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559
2 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto them, When ye be come H935 into the land H776 of your habitations, H4186 which I give H5414 unto you,
3 And will make H6213 an offering by fire H801 unto the LORD, H3068 a burnt offering, H5930 or a sacrifice H2077 in performing H6381 a vow, H5088 or in a freewill offering, H5071 or in your solemn feasts, H4150 to make H6213 a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD, H3068 of the herd, H1241 or of the flock: H6629
4 Then shall he that offereth H7126 his offering H7133 unto the LORD H3068 bring H7126 a meat offering H4503 of a tenth deal H6241 of flour H5560 mingled H1101 with the fourth H7243 part of an hin H1969 of oil. H8081
5 And the fourth H7243 part of an hin H1969 of wine H3196 for a drink offering H5262 shalt thou prepare H6213 with the burnt offering H5930 or sacrifice, H2077 for one H259 lamb. H3532
6 Or for a ram, H352 thou shalt prepare H6213 for a meat offering H4503 two H8147 tenth deals H6241 of flour H5560 mingled H1101 with the third H7992 part of an hin H1969 of oil. H8081
7 And for a drink offering H5262 thou shalt offer H7126 the third H7992 part of an hin H1969 of wine, H3196 for a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068
8 And when thou preparest H6213 a bullock H1121 H1241 for a burnt offering, H5930 or for a sacrifice H2077 in performing H6381 a vow, H5088 or peace offerings H8002 unto the LORD: H3068
9 Then shall he bring H7126 with a bullock H1241 H1121 a meat offering H4503 of three H7969 tenth deals H6241 of flour H5560 mingled H1101 with half H2677 an hin H1969 of oil. H8081
10 And thou shalt bring H7126 for a drink offering H5262 half H2677 an hin H1969 of wine, H3196 for an offering made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068
11 Thus shall it be done H6213 for one H259 bullock, H7794 or for one H259 ram, H352 or for a lamb, H3532 H7716 or a kid. H5795
12 According to the number H4557 that ye shall prepare, H6213 so H3602 shall ye do H6213 to every one H259 according to their number. H4557
13 All that are born of the country H249 shall do H6213 these things after this manner, in offering H7126 an offering made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD. H3068
14 And if a stranger H1616 sojourn H1481 with you, or whosoever be among H8432 you in your generations, H1755 and will offer H6213 an offering made by fire, H801 of a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD; H3068 as ye do, H6213 so he shall do. H6213
15 One H259 ordinance H2708 shall be both for you of the congregation, H6951 and also for the stranger H1616 that sojourneth H1481 with you, an ordinance H2708 for ever H5769 in your generations: H1755 as ye are, so shall the stranger H1616 be before H6440 the LORD. H3068
16 One H259 law H8451 and one H259 manner H4941 shall be for you, and for the stranger H1616 that sojourneth H1481 with you.
17 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559
18 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto them, When ye come H935 into the land H776 whither I bring H935 you,
19 Then it shall be, that, when ye eat H398 of the bread H3899 of the land, H776 ye shall offer up H7311 an heave offering H8641 unto the LORD. H3068
20 Ye shall offer up H7311 a cake H2471 of the first H7225 of your dough H6182 for an heave offering: H8641 as ye do the heave offering H8641 of the threshingfloor, H1637 so shall ye heave H7311 it.
21 Of the first H7225 of your dough H6182 ye shall give H5414 unto the LORD H3068 an heave offering H8641 in your generations. H1755
22 And if ye have erred, H7686 and not observed H6213 all these commandments, H4687 which the LORD H3068 hath spoken H1696 unto Moses, H4872
23 Even all that the LORD H3068 hath commanded H6680 you by the hand H3027 of Moses, H4872 from the day H3117 that the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses, and henceforward H1973 among your generations; H1755
24 Then it shall be, if ought be committed H6213 by ignorance H7684 without the knowledge H5869 of the congregation, H5712 that all the congregation H5712 shall offer H6213 one H259 young H1121 H1241 bullock H6499 for a burnt offering, H5930 for a sweet H5207 savour H7381 unto the LORD, H3068 with his meat offering, H4503 and his drink offering, H5262 according to the manner, H4941 and one H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering. H2403
25 And the priest H3548 shall make an atonement H3722 for all the congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and it shall be forgiven H5545 them; for it is ignorance: H7684 and they shall bring H935 their offering, H7133 a sacrifice made by fire H801 unto the LORD, H3068 and their sin offering H2403 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 for their ignorance: H7684
26 And it shall be forgiven H5545 all the congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and the stranger H1616 that sojourneth H1481 among H8432 them; seeing all the people H5971 were in ignorance. H7684
27 And if any H259 soul H5315 sin H2398 through ignorance, H7684 then he shall bring H7126 a she goat H5795 of the first H1323 year H8141 for a sin offering. H2403
28 And the priest H3548 shall make an atonement H3722 for the soul H5315 that sinneth ignorantly, H7683 when he sinneth H2398 by ignorance H7684 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 to make an atonement H3722 for him; and it shall be forgiven H5545 him.
29 Ye shall have one H259 law H8451 for him that sinneth H6213 through ignorance, H7684 both for him that is born H249 among the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and for the stranger H1616 that sojourneth H1481 among H8432 them.
30 But the soul H5315 that doeth H6213 ought presumptuously, H7311 H3027 whether he be born in the land, H249 or a stranger, H4480 H1616 the same reproacheth H1442 the LORD; H3068 and that soul H5315 shall be cut off H3772 from among H7130 his people. H5971
31 Because he hath despised H959 the word H1697 of the LORD, H3068 and hath broken H6565 his commandment, H4687 that soul H5315 shall utterly H3772 be cut off; H3772 his iniquity H5771 shall be upon him.
32 And while the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were in the wilderness, H4057 they found H4672 a man H376 that gathered H7197 sticks H6086 upon the sabbath H7676 day. H3117
33 And they that found H4672 him gathering H7197 sticks H6086 brought H7126 him unto Moses H4872 and Aaron, H175 and unto all the congregation. H5712
34 And they put H3240 him in ward, H4929 because it was not declared H6567 what should be done H6213 to him.
35 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 The man H376 shall be surely H4191 put to death: H4191 all the congregation H5712 shall stone H7275 him with stones H68 without H2351 the camp. H4264
36 And all the congregation H5712 brought H3318 him without H2351 the camp, H4264 and stoned H7275 him with stones, H68 and he died; H4191 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872
37 And the LORD H3068 spake H559 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559
38 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and bid H559 them that they make H6213 them fringes H6734 in the borders H3671 of their garments H899 throughout their generations, H1755 and that they put H5414 upon the fringe H6734 of the borders H3671 a ribband H6616 of blue: H8504
39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, H6734 that ye may look H7200 upon it, and remember H2142 all the commandments H4687 of the LORD, H3068 and do H6213 them; and that ye seek H8446 not after H310 your own heart H3824 and your own eyes, H5869 after H310 which ye use to go a whoring: H2181
40 That ye may remember, H2142 and do H6213 all my commandments, H4687 and be H1961 holy H6918 unto your God. H430
41 I am the LORD H3068 your God, H430 which brought you out H3318 of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 to be your God: H430 I am the LORD H3068 your God. H430
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Numbers 15
Commentary on Numbers 15 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 15
Nu 15:1-41. The Law of Sundry Offerings.
1, 2. The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel—Some infer from Nu 15:23 that the date of this communication must be fixed towards the close of the wanderings in the wilderness; and, also, that all the sacrifices prescribed in the law were to be offered only after the settlement in Canaan.
3. make an offering by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering—It is evident that a peace offering is referred to because this term is frequently used in such a sense (Ex 18:12; Le 17:5).
4. tenth deal—that is, an omer, the tenth part of an ephah (Ex 16:36).
fourth part of an hin of oil—This element shows it to have been different from such meat offerings as were made by themselves, and not merely accompaniments of other sacrifices.
6-12. two tenth deals—The quantity of flour was increased because the sacrifice was of superior value to the former. The accessory sacrifices were always increased in proportion to the greater worth and magnitude of its principal.
13-16. a stranger—one who had become a proselyte. There were scarcely any of the national privileges of the Israelites, in which the Gentile stranger might not, on conforming to certain conditions, fully participate.
19. when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering—The offering prescribed was to precede the act of eating.
unto the Lord—that is, the priests of the Lord (Eze 44:30).
20. heave offering of the threshing-floor—meaning the corn on the threshing-floor; that is, after harvest.
so shall ye heave it—to the priests accompanying the ceremony with the same rites.
22. if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, &c.—respecting the performance of divine worship, and the rites and ceremonies that constitute the holy service. The law relates only to any omission and consequently is quite different from that laid down in Le 4:13, which implies a transgression or positive neglect of some observances required. This law relates to private parties or individual tribes; that to the whole congregation of Israel.
24-26. if aught be committed by ignorance—The Mosaic ritual was complicated, and the ceremonies to be gone through in the various instances of purification which are specified, would expose a worshipper, through ignorance, to the risk of omitting or neglecting some of them. This law includes the stranger in the number of those for whom the sacrifice was offered for the sin of general ignorance.
27-29. if any soul sin through ignorance—not only in common with the general body of the people, but his personal sins were to be expiated in the same manner.
30. the soul that doeth aught presumptuously—Hebrew, "with an high" or "uplifted hand"—that is, knowingly, wilfully, obstinately. In this sense the phraseology occurs (Ex 14:8; Le 26:21; Ps 19:13).
the same reproacheth the Lord—sets Him at open defiance and dishonors His majesty.
31. his iniquity shall be upon him—The punishment of his sins shall fall on himself individually; no guilt shall be incurred by the nation, unless there be a criminal carelessness in overlooking the offense.
32-34. a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day—This incident is evidently narrated as an instance of presumptuous sin. The mere gathering of sticks was not a sinful act and might be necessary for fuel to warm him or to make ready his food. But its being done on the Sabbath altered the entire character of the action. The law of the Sabbath being a plain and positive commandment, this transgression of it was a known and wilful sin, and it was marked by several aggravations. For the deed was done with unblushing boldness in broad daylight, in open defiance of the divine authority—in flagrant inconsistency with His religious connection with Israel, as the covenant-people of God; and it was an application to improper purposes of time, which God had consecrated to Himself and the solemn duties of religion. The offender was brought before the rulers, who, on hearing the painful report, were at a loss to determine what ought to be done. That they should have felt any embarrassment in such a case may seem surprising, in the face of the sabbath law (Ex 31:14). Their difficulty probably arose from this being the first public offense of the kind which had occurred; and the appeal might be made to remove all ground of complaint—to produce a more striking effect, so that the fate of this criminal might be a beacon to warn all Israelites in the future.
35, 36. The Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death—The Lord was King, as well as God of Israel, and the offense being a violation of the law of the realm, the Sovereign Judge gave orders that this man should be put to death; and, moreover, He required the whole congregation unite in executing the fatal sentence.
38. bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments—These were narrow strips, in a wing-like form, wrapped over the shoulders and on various parts of the attire. "Fringe," however, is the English rendering of two distinct Hebrew words—the one meaning a narrow lappet or edging, called the "hem" or "border" (Mt 23:5; Lu 8:44), which, in order to make it more attractive to the eye and consequently more serviceable to the purpose described, was covered with a riband of blue or rather purple color; the other term signifies strings with tassels at the end, fastened to the corners of the garment. Both of these are seen on the Egyptian and Assyrian frocks; and as the Jewish people were commanded by express and repeated ordinances to have them, the fashion was rendered subservient, in their case, to awaken high and religious associations—to keep them in habitual remembrance of the divine commandments.
41. I am the Lord your God—The import of this solemn conclusion is, that though He was displeased with them for their frequent rebellions, for which they would be doomed to forty years' wanderings, He would not abandon them but continue His divine protection and care of them till they were brought into the land of promise.