American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Numbers 15
1
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2
Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you be come into the land of your habitations, which I give to you,
Reference
3
And will make an offering by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet smell to the LORD, of the herd or of the flock:
Reference
4
Then shall he that offers his offering to the LORD bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oil.
Reference
5
And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shall you prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb.
Reference
6
Or for a ram, you shall prepare for a meat offering two tenth deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oil.
7
And for a drink offering you shall offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet smell to the LORD.
8
And when you prepare a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace offerings to the LORD:
Reference
Sacrifice
Leviticus 3:1
9
Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil.
Reference
10
And you shall bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet smell to the LORD.
Reference
Sacrifice
Numbers 15:5
11
Thus shall it be done for one bullock, or for one ram, or for a lamb, or a kid.
12
According to the number that you shall prepare, so shall you do to every one according to their number.
13
All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet smell to the LORD.
14
And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet smell to the LORD; as you do, so he shall do.
15
One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojournes with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as you are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD.
Reference
16
One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojournes with you.
17
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
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Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you come into the land where I bring you,
Reference
References Israel
Numbers 15:2
19
Then it shall be, that, when you eat of the bread of the land, you shall offer up an heave offering to the LORD.
20
You shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as you do the heave offering of the threshing floor, so shall you heave it.
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 34:26
Exodus 23:19
Ezekiel 44:30
Leviticus 23:10
Sacrifice
Leviticus 2:14
Nehemiah 10:37
21
Of the first of your dough you shall give to the LORD an heave offering in your generations.
Reference
Sacrifice
Exodus 29:28
22
And if you have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the LORD has spoken to Moses,
Reference
Word
Leviticus 4:2
23
Even all that the LORD has commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded Moses, and henceforward among your generations;
24
Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet smell to the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
Reference
25
And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire to the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance:
Reference
26
And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojournes among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.
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And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.
28
And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sins ignorantly, when he sins by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
Reference
Sin
Leviticus 4:35
29
You shall have one law for him that sins through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojournes among them.
Reference
30
But the soul that does ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproaches the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 10:26
Psalm 19:13
Hebrews 10:29
Matthew 12:32
Psalm 74:22
2 Peter 2:10
References Lord
Deuteronomy 1:43
Psalm 74:18
Psalm 79:12
Psalm 89:51
31
Because he has despised the word of the LORD, and has broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Thessalonians 4:8
Psalm 38:4
Sin
Ezekiel 18:20
Leviticus 5:1
Isaiah 53:6
Word
Proverbs 13:13
2 Samuel 12:9
Psalm 119:126
Isaiah 30:12
2 Peter 2:21
32
And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks on the sabbath day.
33
And they that found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation.
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And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
Reference
Parallel theme
Leviticus 24:12
35
And the LORD said to Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
Reference
36
And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.
37
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
38
Speak to the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put on the fringe of the borders a ribbon of blue:
Reference
39
And it shall be to you for a fringe, that you may look on it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that you seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you use to go a whoring:
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 106:39
Psalm 73:27
Ezekiel 6:9
Proverbs 28:26
Job 31:7
Ecclesiastes 11:9
James 4:4
Word
Proverbs 3:1
Deuteronomy 29:19
41
I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.
Reference
References God
Leviticus 22:33
Summary of Numbers 15
Numbers chapter 15 provides further instruction to Israel concerning offerings, sacrifices, sin, and obedience. The chapter begins with the Lord speaking to Moses after the events of the previous chapter. God was providing instruction concerning what the Israelites should do when they eventually entered the land that he had promised them. The chapter had begun with the announcement that the current generation would not be allowed to enter the land. God was preparing the nation for the future despite the loss of many adults.
When an Israelite was to offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to fulfill a vow, the animal was to provide with a grain offering and a drink offering. The amount was dependent upon the size of the animal being provided. A greater amount was required for a bullock than a lamb, and a greater amount was required for a ram than a bullock.
The reason why these instructions are provided is to provide an orderly pattern. The sacrifice of the animal was not to be made without the accompanying grain offering and drink offering. God was giving specific instruction for the worship in the promised land.
The same applied when a stranger, who was living among the Israelites, was to offer a sacrifice. The chapter states that there was to be one law for the Israelite and for the stranger living in their midst. This was the same throughout their generations. It shows that the worship of God was not to operate with one law for Israelites and another law for the foreigners who chose to associate themselves with the nation.
The chapter next provides instruction concerning the first portion of dough. When the Israelites ate of the bread of the land, they were to offer a portion of their dough as an offering to the Lord. This was a practice that would continue from generation to generation. It reminded the people that the food that they produced ultimately came from God.
Numbers 15 then moves to address the issue of sin in an unintentional manner. If the congregation made a mistake, then the community was to bring a young bullock as a burnt offering along with the necessary grain and drink offering and a kid of the goats as a sin offering. The priest was to make atonement for the congregation, and they were to be forgiven.
The same applied when an individual was unintentionally involved in sinning. The person was required to bring a female goat of the first year for a sin offering. The priest was to make atonement for the person, and they were to be forgiven.
The distinction between unintentional sin and deliberate rebellion becomes very important with the next portion of the chapter. The rebellion was to be punished most severely because it showed contempt for the Lord and an outright rejection of his word.
This was not an act of rebellion that showed that the person had failed to understand what they had been taught to do or not to do. It was a case where the person had deliberately disregarded the known instruction of God.
The chapter then provides an example of someone deliberately breaking a command. While the Israelites were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. The people brought him to Moses, Aaron, and the congregation because they were unsure what to do with this particular case.
The man was kept in custody while Moses sought the Lord's instruction. The Lord ordered that the man was to be taken out of the camp and stoned to death. The congregation carried out the order.
This was in line with the instruction regarding deliberate disobedience. The man was not making a trivial mistake. He was deliberately working on the Sabbath day after the people had received God's instruction concerning this day. The example demonstrated the severity with which the Israelites were expected to regard the word of God.
The final section of the chapter provides instruction regarding the fringes on the garments of the Israelites. God instructed Moses to inform the people that they were to make fringes on the border of their garments throughout their generations. The fringes were to include a blue ribbon.
The reason was very simple. When the Israelites saw the fringes, they were to "remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them, and not do what their hearts desire or their eyes see as they tempt them to turn away from the Lord." They were to remember God and not follow their desires and temptations.
This was a response to the consistent failure of the Israelites to remember God's commands and to do what he had instructed.
They had forgotten what he had done for them and were easily swayed by their own desires and the influence of the people around them. The garment fringes were a constant physical reminder that they were God's people and were expected to live by his commands.
God reminded the Israelites that they were to remember that he had brought them out of Egypt to be his people.
Numbers 15 is important in that it comes directly after the rebelling episode described in Numbers 14. The Israelites had refused to enter into Canaan because they did not believe that they would be able to succeed. Even though the entire generation was not to be allowed to enter, God's promises continued. The instruction contained in the chapter pointed to the future when their children would live in Canaan and would continue to worship God.
The chapter also demonstrates that atonement and forgiveness were possible when a person sinned unintentionally. However, deliberate rebellion was to be punished even more severely. The distinction was not between greater and lesser mistakes, but between the unintentional failure to do what had been instructed and the deliberate decision to reject the word of God.
The instruction concerning the Sabbath and the garment fringes pointed to the same idea. The Israelites were to remember God's words and live by them even when the physical punishment was not necessarily obvious. They needed reminders of their obligation to God.
In this case, it was the wilderness and the temptations and the fears of the unfamiliar environment that led the people to act out of control. The Israelites lived in a difficult environment and were easily influenced by the circumstances.
Numbers 15 reminds Israel that there will be future beyond this present crisis in the wilderness. It shows that they were to continue to worship God even in the midst of the promised land and that their lives would have to continue to be lived in obedience to his word. The people were to obey his commands, remember his rules, and take the deliberate sin as a most serious issue since it represented their attitude of rebellion towards God.
When an Israelite was to offer a burnt offering or a sacrifice to fulfill a vow, the animal was to provide with a grain offering and a drink offering. The amount was dependent upon the size of the animal being provided. A greater amount was required for a bullock than a lamb, and a greater amount was required for a ram than a bullock.
The reason why these instructions are provided is to provide an orderly pattern. The sacrifice of the animal was not to be made without the accompanying grain offering and drink offering. God was giving specific instruction for the worship in the promised land.
The same applied when a stranger, who was living among the Israelites, was to offer a sacrifice. The chapter states that there was to be one law for the Israelite and for the stranger living in their midst. This was the same throughout their generations. It shows that the worship of God was not to operate with one law for Israelites and another law for the foreigners who chose to associate themselves with the nation.
The chapter next provides instruction concerning the first portion of dough. When the Israelites ate of the bread of the land, they were to offer a portion of their dough as an offering to the Lord. This was a practice that would continue from generation to generation. It reminded the people that the food that they produced ultimately came from God.
Numbers 15 then moves to address the issue of sin in an unintentional manner. If the congregation made a mistake, then the community was to bring a young bullock as a burnt offering along with the necessary grain and drink offering and a kid of the goats as a sin offering. The priest was to make atonement for the congregation, and they were to be forgiven.
The same applied when an individual was unintentionally involved in sinning. The person was required to bring a female goat of the first year for a sin offering. The priest was to make atonement for the person, and they were to be forgiven.
The distinction between unintentional sin and deliberate rebellion becomes very important with the next portion of the chapter. The rebellion was to be punished most severely because it showed contempt for the Lord and an outright rejection of his word.
This was not an act of rebellion that showed that the person had failed to understand what they had been taught to do or not to do. It was a case where the person had deliberately disregarded the known instruction of God.
The chapter then provides an example of someone deliberately breaking a command. While the Israelites were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. The people brought him to Moses, Aaron, and the congregation because they were unsure what to do with this particular case.
The man was kept in custody while Moses sought the Lord's instruction. The Lord ordered that the man was to be taken out of the camp and stoned to death. The congregation carried out the order.
This was in line with the instruction regarding deliberate disobedience. The man was not making a trivial mistake. He was deliberately working on the Sabbath day after the people had received God's instruction concerning this day. The example demonstrated the severity with which the Israelites were expected to regard the word of God.
The final section of the chapter provides instruction regarding the fringes on the garments of the Israelites. God instructed Moses to inform the people that they were to make fringes on the border of their garments throughout their generations. The fringes were to include a blue ribbon.
The reason was very simple. When the Israelites saw the fringes, they were to "remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them, and not do what their hearts desire or their eyes see as they tempt them to turn away from the Lord." They were to remember God and not follow their desires and temptations.
This was a response to the consistent failure of the Israelites to remember God's commands and to do what he had instructed.
They had forgotten what he had done for them and were easily swayed by their own desires and the influence of the people around them. The garment fringes were a constant physical reminder that they were God's people and were expected to live by his commands.
God reminded the Israelites that they were to remember that he had brought them out of Egypt to be his people.
Numbers 15 is important in that it comes directly after the rebelling episode described in Numbers 14. The Israelites had refused to enter into Canaan because they did not believe that they would be able to succeed. Even though the entire generation was not to be allowed to enter, God's promises continued. The instruction contained in the chapter pointed to the future when their children would live in Canaan and would continue to worship God.
The chapter also demonstrates that atonement and forgiveness were possible when a person sinned unintentionally. However, deliberate rebellion was to be punished even more severely. The distinction was not between greater and lesser mistakes, but between the unintentional failure to do what had been instructed and the deliberate decision to reject the word of God.
The instruction concerning the Sabbath and the garment fringes pointed to the same idea. The Israelites were to remember God's words and live by them even when the physical punishment was not necessarily obvious. They needed reminders of their obligation to God.
In this case, it was the wilderness and the temptations and the fears of the unfamiliar environment that led the people to act out of control. The Israelites lived in a difficult environment and were easily influenced by the circumstances.
Numbers 15 reminds Israel that there will be future beyond this present crisis in the wilderness. It shows that they were to continue to worship God even in the midst of the promised land and that their lives would have to continue to be lived in obedience to his word. The people were to obey his commands, remember his rules, and take the deliberate sin as a most serious issue since it represented their attitude of rebellion towards God.