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Numbers Chapter
Fifteen
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 15
In
this chapter the children of Israel are instructed about the meat offerings and
drink offerings, and the quantities of them, which were always to go along with
their burnt offerings and peace offerings they should offer when they came into
the land of Canaan, Numbers 15:1; and
they are told that the same laws and ordinances would be binding equally on
them that were of the country, and on the strangers in it, Numbers 15:13; and
an order is given them to offer a cake of the first dough for an heave
offering, Numbers 15:17; and
they are directed what sacrifices to offer for sins of ignorance, both of the
congregation and particular persons, Numbers 14:22; but
as for presumptuous sinners, they were to be cut off, Numbers 14:30; and
an instance is recorded of stoning a sabbath breaker, Numbers 14:32; and
the chapter is concluded with a law for wearing fringes on the borders of their
garments, the use of which is expressed, Numbers 14:35.
Numbers 15:1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
YLT
1And Jehovah speaketh unto
Moses, saying,
The Lord spake unto Moses,.... After the murmurings
of the Israelites by reason of the spies, Numbers 14:2; and
their being threatened with a consumption of them in the wilderness on that
account, Numbers 14:12; and
their defeat at Hormah, Numbers 14:45, and
lest their posterity should be discouraged, and despair of ever enjoying the
good land:
saying; as follows.
Numbers 15:2 2 “Speak to
the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you have come into the land you
are to inhabit, which I am giving to you,
YLT
2`Speak unto the sons of
Israel, and thou hast said unto them, When ye come in unto the land of your
dwellings, which I am giving to you,
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them,.... The
younger sort of them, such as were under twenty years of age; for those of that
age and upwards, who had murmured against the Lord, had been assured by him
with an oath that they should die in the wilderness, and not see the land of
Canaan, Numbers 14:29;
whereas those Moses is here bid to speak to were such that should possess it:
when ye come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto,
you; the land of Canaan, the grant of which is here renewed to them,
and an assurance given of their coming into it and settlement in it; and that
they should have dwelling places there for their several tribes and families.
Numbers 15:3 3 and you make an offering by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill
offering or in your appointed feasts, to make a sweet aroma to the Lord, from the herd or the flock,
YLT
3then ye have prepared a
fire-offering to Jehovah, a burnt-offering, or a sacrifice, at separating a vow
or free-will-offering, or in your appointed things, to make a sweet fragrance
to Jehovah, out of the herd, or out of the flock.
And will make an offering by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering,.... The first
of these respects such offerings by fire, which were not wholly burnt, but part
of them were eaten by the priests, Deuteronomy 18:1;
and the latter such as were wholly burnt, unless the latter can be thought to
be only an explanation of the former:
or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering; these were
peace offerings, some of which were for thanksgiving, and others were either a
vow or a freewill offering, as here: see Leviticus 7:11,
or in your solemn feasts; as the passover,
pentecost, &c. of which, and the offerings in them, see Leviticus 23:4,
to make a sweet savour unto the Lord; for
acceptance with him:
of the herd or of the flock; a bullock of the one, a
lamb or kid of the goats of the other; fowls are not mentioned, because burnt
offerings of them required no drink offeringsF6Maimon. Maaseh
Hakorbanot, c. 2. sect. 2. .
Numbers 15:4 4 then he who presents his offering to the Lord shall bring a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of
fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil;
YLT
4`And he who is bringing
near his offering to Jehovah hath brought near a present of flour, a tenth
deal, mixed with a fourth of the hin of oil;
Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the Lord,.... Be it of
either kind before mentioned:
bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour, mingled with the
fourth part of an hin of oil; this was made of the
tenth part of an ephah, or of an omer of fine wheaten flour, which was the
quantity of about three quarts; and which was mixed and macerated with the
fourth part of an hin, or with a quart and more than half a pint of oil: see Exodus 29:40;
rather this should be called a bread offering.
Numbers 15:5 5 and one-fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering you
shall prepare with the burnt offering or the sacrifice, for each lamb.
YLT
5and wine for a libation, a
fourth of the hin thou dost prepare for the burnt-offering or for a sacrifice,
for the one lamb;
And the fourth part of an hin of wine,.... The same
measure with the oil, and this was wine of the grapes, as the Targum of Jonathan;
other sorts of wine might not be used for the purpose mentioned:
for a drink offering shalt thou prepare; with the meat
offering, to go along with every burnt offering and peace offering; which, as
they were the food of God and the provision of his house, it was proper there
should be of every kind fit for an entertainment, as flesh, bread, and wine.
These were to go
with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb; if there were
more than one, then a greater quantity in proportion was required.
Numbers 15:6 6 Or for a ram you shall prepare as a grain offering
two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-third of a hin of
oil;
YLT
6or for a ram thou dost
prepare a present of flour, two-tenth deals, mixed with oil, a third of the hin;
Or for a ram,.... Whether for a burnt offering or a peace
offering; or rather and for a ramF7Vid. Nold. Concord. Ebr. part. p.
4. No. 24. so R. Jonah in Ben Melech in loc. , as many versions:
thou shalt prepare for a meat offering two tenth deals of
flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oil: which was the
quantity of six quarts of fine flour, and about three pints and a quarter of a
pint of oil.
Numbers 15:7 7 and as a drink offering you shall offer one-third of a
hin of wine as a sweet aroma to the Lord.
YLT
7and wine for a libation, a
third part of the hin, thou dost bring near -- a sweet fragrance to Jehovah.
And for a drink offering thou shalt offer a third part of
an hin of wine,.... The same quantity of wine was to be used in the drink
offering as of oil in the meat offering, Numbers 15:4,
for a sweet savour unto the
Lord, that it might be acceptable to him.
Numbers 15:8 8 And when you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering,
or as a sacrifice to fulfill a vow, or as a peace offering to the Lord,
YLT
8`And when thou makest a son
of the herd a burnt-offering or a sacrifice, at separating a vow or
peace-offerings to Jehovah,
And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt offering,.... Which was
a larger offering, and required a larger meat offering and drink offering, as Numbers 15:9 show:
or for a sacrifice in performing a vow or peace offerings
unto the Lord; by which latter are meant freewill offerings; for though both
sorts here mentioned were peace offerings, yet these were more particularly
called so.
Numbers 15:9 9 then shall be offered with the young bull a grain
offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin
of oil;
YLT
9then he hath brought near
for the son of the herd a present of flour, three-tenth deals, mixed with oil,
a half of the hin;
Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering,.... Much
larger than either for a lamb or ram, even one consisting
of three tenth deals of flour; or nine quarts of it:
mingled with half an hin of oil; two quarts and a pint,
and somewhat more.
Numbers 15:10 10 and you shall bring as the drink offering half a hin
of wine as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.
YLT
10and wine thou bringest near
for a libation, a half of the hin -- a fire-offering of sweet fragrance to
Jehovah;
And thou shalt bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine,.... The same
quantity as of oil, and a little more:
for an offering made by fire
of a sweet savour unto the Lord: this, according to Jarchi, refers only to
the meat offering and the oil: for the wine was not a fire offering, not being
put upon the fire.
Numbers 15:11 11 ‘Thus it shall be done for each young bull, for each
ram, or for each lamb or young goat.
YLT
11thus it is done for the one
ox, or for the one ram, or for a lamb of the sheep or of the goats.
Thus shall it be done for one bullock,.... Such a
quantity of flour and oil for the meat offering, and such a quantity of wine
for the drink offering as before expressed; making no difference between one
young or old:
or for a ram: which, Jarchi says, was thirteen months and
one day old:
or for a lamb, or a kid; for a young one of the
flock, whether of the sheep or goat, whether a lamb or a kid of the goats;
which, according to Jarchi, were within a year, not a year old.
Numbers 15:12 12 According to the number that you prepare, so you shall
do with everyone according to their number.
YLT
12`According to the number
that ye prepare, so ye do to each, according to their number;
According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to
everyone, according to their number. That is, in proportion to
the number of the cattle, be they of which sort they would, should be the
quantity of the meat and drink offerings.
Numbers 15:13 13 All who are native-born shall do these things in this
manner, in presenting an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.
YLT
13every native doth thus with
these, at bringing near a fire-offering of sweet fragrance to Jehovah;
All that are born of the country shall do these things after this
manner,.... Meaning that all Israelites should with their sacrifices
bring their meat and drink offerings of the quantity directed to as above:
in offering an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the
Lord; when they offered any burnt offerings or peace offerings: the
Jews say, that all sacrifices, whether of the congregation or of a private
person, require drink offerings, excepting the firstborn, the tithes, the
passover, the sin offering, and the trespass offering; but the sin offering of
the leper, and his trespass offering, require themF8Misn. Menachot,
c. 9. 6. : the Targum of Jonathan is,"all that are born in Israel, and not
among the people, shall make these drink offerings thus;'for though an
uncircumcised Gentile might bring burnt offerings and peace offerings, yet not
meat offerings and drink offerings with them; See Gill on Leviticus 22:18;
only such as were proselytes of righteousness, as in Numbers 15:14.
Numbers 15:14 14 And if a stranger dwells with you, or whoever is
among you throughout your generations, and would present an offering made by
fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord, just as
you do, so shall he do.
YLT
14and when a sojourner
sojourneth with you, or whoso [is] in your midst to your generations, and he
hath made a fire-offering of sweet fragrance to Jehovah, as ye do so he doth.
And if a stranger sojourn with you,.... A stranger, or
proselyte, not of the gate, but of righteousness, as Ben Gersom and the Jewish,
writers in general interpret it:
or whatsoever be among you in your generations; whether such
a proselyte settled and continued among them, or only stayed with them awhile:
and will offer an offering made by fire of a sweet savour unto the
Lord; is desirous of offering a burnt offering or a peace offering to
the Lord in an acceptable manner:
as ye do, so shall he do; bring the same meat offering
and drink offering, according to the nature and number of the cattle he brings
for sacrifice.
Numbers 15:15 15 One ordinance shall be for you of the assembly
and for the stranger who dwells with you, an ordinance forever
throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord.
YLT
15`One statute is for you of
the congregation and for the sojourner who is sojourning, a statute age-during
to your generations: as ye [are] so is the sojourner before Jehovah;
One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation,.... Or
"O congregation"F9הקהל "O
Congregatio", Noldius, p. 237. No. 1077. , as Ben Melech, and so the
Targum of Jonathan, "O whole congregation"; though Aben Ezra denies
it to be vocative:
and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you; the same
ordinance, statute, or appointment, respecting the above things, were equally
binding on one side as on the other, an homeborn Israelite and a proselyte of
righteousness:
an ordinance for ever in your generations; to be
observed by them, one and the other, in all ages, until the Messiah came and
abolished the law of commandments contained in ordinances:
as ye are so shall the stranger be before the Lord; not in things
civil, but religious, and particularly with respect to the above sacrifices and
offerings: Ben Gersom and Aben Ezra say this respects the burnt offering only,
which was before the Lord.
Numbers 15:16 16 One law and one custom shall be for you and for the
stranger who dwells with you.’”[a]
YLT
16one law and one ordinance
is to you and to the sojourner who is sojourning with you.'
One law, and one manner,.... One law respecting
these sacrifices, and one manner of offering them; one and the same precept to
be observed, and one and the same judgment or punishment inflicted in case of
non-observance:
shall be for you, and the stranger that sojourneth with you; for
Israelites and proselytes; which is said to invite and encourage the latter,
and may have a distant view to the calling of the Gentiles in Gospel times,
when there should be no difference between Jews and Gentiles called by grace in
matters of religion, but would be one in Christ, Galatians 3:28.
Numbers 15:17 17 Again the Lord spoke to
Moses, saying,
YLT
17And Jehovah speaketh unto
Moses, saying,
And the Lord spake unto Moses,.... Or continued to
speak to him; for the following law was given at the same time as those before:
saying; as follows.
Numbers 15:18 18 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them:
‘When you come into the land to which I bring you,
YLT
18`Speak unto the sons of
Israel, and thou hast said unto them, In your coming in unto the land whither I
am bringing you in,
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them,.... Who only
were bound to observe the following law concerning the cake of the first dough,
Numbers 15:20, and
not Gentiles; so the Jews sayF11Schulchan Aruch, par. 2. c. 330.
sect. 1. , the dough of a Gentile is free from the cake, though an Israelite
kneads it:
when ye come into the land whither I bring you; the land of
Canaan: this is another assurance of their possession of the land of Canaan,
notwithstanding what had been threatened; in Numbers 15:2; it is
only said, "which I give unto you", but here, "whither I bring
you"; assuring them, that as he had given it unto them, he would certainly
introduce them into it. The Jews from hence gather, that they are not bound to
observe this precept concerning the cake by the law, but in the land of Israel
only, and when all Israel are there; wherefore at this time, and even in the
days of Ezra, it is separated only by the words of the Scribes; and the reason
of it is, that this law might not be forgotten by the IsraelitesF12Schulchan
Aruch, par. 2. c. 322. sect. 2, 3. : there were three countries that were bound
to bring the cake, according to the MisnahF13Misn. Challah, c. 4.
sect. 8. 10. .
Numbers 15:19 19 then it will be, when you eat of the bread of the land,
that you shall offer up a heave offering to the Lord.
YLT
19then it hath been, in your
eating of the bread of the land, ye heave up a heave-offering to Jehovah;
Then it shall be, that when ye eat of the bread of the land,.... Of the
land of Canaan; when they were about to eat of it, before they actually did;
when they were preparing for it, had ground their corn into flour, and had
mixed it with water and kneaded it into dough, in order to bake it and make it
fit for food; by bread is meant bread corn, such as was the old corn of the
land the Israelites first ate of when they entered into it, Joshua 5:11; the
Targum of Jonathan adds,"not of rice, or millet, or pulse,'but what was
made of corn used for bread; and the Jews sayF14Misn. Challah, c. 1.
sect. 1. , there were five things only they were obliged to make the cake of,
wheat, barley, "cusmin" or rye, fox ear (barley), and oats; and this
is to be understood only of dough made for men's bread, and not for dogs or any
other beastF15Schulchan Aruch, ut supra, (par. 2.) c. 330. sect. 8,
9. :
ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the Lord; and what that
is, is expressed in Numbers 15:20.
Numbers 15:20 20 You shall offer up a cake of the first of your ground
meal as a heave offering; as a heave offering of the threshing floor, so
shall you offer it up.
YLT
20the beginning of your dough
a cake ye heave up -- a heave-offering; as the heave-offering of a
threshing-floor, so ye do heave it.
Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an
heave offering,.... Of the first dough made of the first corn that was threshed,
winnowed and ground, they were to make a cake, and offer it an heave offering
unto the Lord; the quantity of it is not expressed, but was left to the
people's generosity; no stinted measure was fixed by the law; but according to
the Scribes, or the traditions of the elders, the quantity of the cake was the
twenty fourth part of the first dough that was kneaded; not the forty fourth,
as BuxtorfF16Synagog. Jud. c. 34. p. 602. through mistake says; so
the Targum of Jonathan,"of the first of your dough, one out of twenty four
(i.e. the twenty fourth part of it), ye shall separate a separation for the
priests,'with which agrees the MisnahF17Challah, c. 2. sect. 7. so
Schulchan Aruch, par. 2. c. 322. so Jarchi & Ben Gersom in loc. , though
according to that, if made to sell publicly it was the forty eighth part of it.
Some, because Numbers 15:21
begins and ends with מ, "mem", which
numerically signifies "forty", think this is an instruction to a
bountiful person to give the fortieth partF18Baal Hatturim in loc. :
as ye do the heave offering of the threshing floor, so
shall ye heave it; as the two wave loaves and firstfruits of their harvest, Leviticus 23:16.
Numbers 15:21 21 Of the first of your ground meal you shall give to the
Lord a heave offering throughout your generations.
YLT
21Of the beginning of your
dough ye do give to Jehovah a heave-offering -- to your generations.
Of the first of your dough shall ye give unto the Lord,.... As an
acknowledgment of his being the sovereign Lord and possessor of heaven and
earth, and of his being the owner and proprietor of the land of Canaan; and by
way of thankfulness to him for the plenty of bread corn he had given them; and
wherefore this cake was to he heaved or lifted up towards him in heaven, as
follows:
an heave offering in your generations: for this
respected not only the first time of their entrance into the land of Canaan,
but was to be observed every year when they made their first dough, and was to
continue as long as the ceremonial law lasted: this cake was anciently given to
the priest, which is meant by giving it to the Lord, but now the Jews take it
and cast it into the fire and burn itF19Buxtorf. ut supra, (Synagog.
Jud. c. 34. p. 602.) & Leo Modena, History of the present Jews, par. 2. c.
9. the apostle seems to allude to this cake of the first dough in Romans 11:16.
Numbers 15:22 22 ‘If you sin unintentionally, and do not observe all
these commandments which the Lord has spoken
to Moses—
YLT
22`And when ye err, and do
not all these commands which Jehovah hath spoken unto Moses,
And if ye have erred,.... Gone astray from the
law of God, and any of its precepts; every sin is an error, a missing of the
mark, a wandering from the way of God's commandments. Jarchi, and the Jews in
general, interpret this of idolatry, but it rather respects any deviation from
the law, moral or ceremonial, especially the latter:
and not observed all these commandments which the Lord hath spoken
unto Moses; in this chapter, more particularly concerning the meat offerings
and drink offerings, and the quantity of them, to be brought along with their
burnt offerings and peace offerings, and concerning the cake of the first dough
to be heaved before the Lord and given to the priest.
Numbers 15:23 23 all that the Lord has
commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day the Lord gave commandment and onward throughout your generations—
YLT
23the whole that Jehovah hath
charged upon you by the hand of Moses, from the day that Jehovah hath
commanded, and henceforth, to your generations,
Even all that the
Lord hath commanded you by the hand of Moses,.... Recorded in this
book and the two preceding, whether of a moral, ceremonial, or judicial kind;
the whole body of laws given to the people of Israel from the Lord by Moses:
from the day that the Lord commanded Moses, and
henceforward among your generations; all that he had
commanded, or should hereafter command.
Numbers 15:24 24 then it will be, if it is unintentionally committed,
without the knowledge of the congregation, that the whole congregation shall
offer one young bull as a burnt offering, as a sweet aroma to the Lord, with its grain offering and its drink offering, according to the
ordinance, and one kid of the goats as a sin offering.
YLT
24then it hath been, if from
the eyes of the company it hath been done in ignorance, that all the company
have prepared one bullock, a son of the herd, for a burnt-offering, for sweet
fragrance to Jehovah, and its present, and its libation, according to the
ordinance, and one kid of the goats for a sin-offering.
Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance,.... Of the
law of God, not clearly understanding the meaning of it, or not knowing of the
several precepts of it, and the circumstances of each, and the manner of
performing obedience thereunto:
without the knowledge of the congregation; or they being
ignorant of the true intent of the law and form of obeying it; for this is to
be understood not of the sin of a private person through ignorance, but of the
body of the people; or of a congregation of them in some particular place,
ignorantly and unawares falling into idolatry, or rather into a breach of any
of the laws of God, moral or ceremonial:
that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a
burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the Lord; as an acceptable
sacrifice to him; by which it appears that this law is different from that in Leviticus 4:13;
since the bullock there was for a sin offering, this for a burnt offering; and
besides another creature was to be for a sin offering, as after expressed:
with his meat offering and his drink offering, according to the
manner; a meat offering, consisting of such a quantity of flour and oil,
and a drink offering of such a quantity of wine as directed to, Numbers 15:9,
and one kid of the goats for a sin offering; which though
mentioned last was offered first, as an expiatory sacrifice for sin, typical of
Christ, who was made an offering for sin, and then the burnt offering by way of
thankfulness for the acceptance of the other.
Numbers 15:25 25 So the priest shall make atonement for the whole
congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them, for it
was unintentional; they shall bring their offering, an offering made by fire to
the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord, for their
unintended sin.
YLT
25`And the priest hath made
atonement for all the company of the sons of Israel, and it hath been forgiven
them, for it [is] ignorance, and they -- they have brought in their offering, a
fire-offering to Jehovah, even their sin-offering before Jehovah for their
ignorance;
And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of
the children of Israel;.... By offering a sin offering for them, a type of Christ, the
propitiation not only for the sins of the people among the Jews, but throughout
the whole world, 1 John 2:2,
and it shall be forgiven them; as the sins of the
Lord's people are forgiven them through the blood of Christ, and on account of
his stoning sacrifice and satisfaction made for them:
for it is ignorance; a sin of ignorance, for
which reason Christ pleads for pardon on the foot of his sacrifice, and his
people receive it, Luke 23:34; for
that this sin was forgiven on the score of a sacrifice appears by what follows:
and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto
the Lord; the bullock for the burnt offering:
and their sin offering before the Lord, for their ignorance; a kid of the
goats.
Numbers 15:26 26 It shall be forgiven the whole congregation of the
children of Israel and the stranger who dwells among them, because all the
people did it unintentionally.
YLT
26and it hath been forgiven
to all the company of the sons of Israel, and to the sojourner who is
sojourning in their midst; for to all the company [it is done] in ignorance.
And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of
Israel,.... Which is repeated for the certainty of it, and for the sake
of what follows:
and the stranger that sojourneth among them; the proselyte
of righteousness; so the blessing of pardon, through the propitiatory sacrifice
of Christ, comes upon believing Gentiles as well as Jews, Romans 4:9,
seeing all the people were in ignorance; both the
congregation of Israel and the stranger; See Gill on Numbers 15:25.
Numbers 15:27 27 ‘And if a person sins unintentionally, then he shall
bring a female goat in its first year as a sin offering.
YLT
27`And if one person sin in
ignorance, then he hath brought near a she-goat, daughter of a year, for a
sin-offering;
And if any soul sin through ignorance,.... Any
private or particular person, by breaking any of the above commands, or any
other, not rightly understanding them, or not adverting: to the circumstances
required in the manner of performing them:
then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin
offering; which differed in this from the sin offering of a congregation
that sinned through ignorance; that was a kid of the goats, whether male or
female, but this was to be a female goat and of a year old.
Numbers 15:28 28 So the priest shall make atonement for the person who
sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before the Lord, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
YLT
28and the priest hath made
atonement for the person who is erring, in his sinning in ignorance before
Jehovah, by making atonement for him, and it hath been forgiven him;
And the priest shall make atonement for the soul that sinneth
ignorantly,.... By offering his sin offering for him:
when he sinneth by ignorance before the Lord; to whom it is
known to be such, before whom all things are naked, open, and well known:
to make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him; upon that
atonement made by sacrifice; so the forgiveness of the sins of all the Lord's
people proceeds upon an atonement made by the blood and sacrifice of Christ:
full atonement of sin and free forgiveness are not contrary to each other.
Numbers 15:29 29 You shall have one law for him who sins
unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel
and for the stranger who dwells among them.
YLT
29for the native among the
sons of Israel, and for the sojourner who is sojourning in their midst -- one
law is to you, for him who is doing [anything] through ignorance.
You shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance,.... Which
enjoins a she goat for a sin offering for such:
both for him that
is born amongst the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth
among them; both sinning through ignorance, the same sacrifice was offered
for them, by which atonement was made, and through which their sin was
forgiven; by whom are meant homeborn Israelites and proselytes of
righteousness, who were under the same laws, and enjoyed the same privileges,
as do now believing Jews and Gentiles.
Numbers 15:30 30 ‘But the person who does anything
presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings
reproach on the Lord, and he shall be cut off from among his people.
YLT
30`And the person who doth
[aught] with a high hand -- of the native or of the sojourner -- Jehovah he is
reviling, and that person hath been cut off from the midst of his people;
But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously,.... Or with
"an high hand"F20ביד רמה "in manu excelsa", Pagninus, Montanus,
Vatablus. , or through pride, as the Targum of Jonathan; in an haughty,
insolent, bold and daring manner; in an obstinate, stubborn, self-willed way,
with purpose and design, openly and publicly, neither fearing God nor regarding
man:
whether he be born in the
land, or a stranger; here a stranger as well signifies a proselyte of the gate as a
proselyte of righteousness; seeing this presumptuous sinning may respect
idolatry and blasphemy, which sins were punishable in proselytes of the gate by
the magistrates of Israel as well as by the immediate hand of God:
the same reproacheth the Lord; by denying him to be the
true Jehovah, by worshipping other gods, and by speaking in a blaspheming
manner of him the true God; and indeed every presumptuous sin, which is
committed in a bold and audacious manner, in contempt of God and defiance of
his law, is a reproaching him the lawgiver, and a trampling upon his
legislative power and authority:
and that soul shall be cut off from among his people, either by the
hand of the civil magistrate, upon conviction of him, or by the immediate hand
of God; no sacrifice was to be offered for such, no atonement to be made or
forgiveness to be had; see Matthew 12:31.
Numbers 15:31 31 Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely
cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.’”
YLT
31because the word of Jehovah
he despised, and His command hath broken -- that person is certainly cut off;
his iniquity [is] on him.'
Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his
commandment,.... That is, has broken it through contempt of it, despising it
as a command of God, paying no regard to it as a law of his; otherwise such who
sin ignorantly break the commandment of God:
that soul shall be utterly cut off; or "in cutting off
shall be cut off"F21הכרת תכרת "excidendo excidetur", Pagninus, Montanus,
Drusius. ; most certainly cut off and entirely ruined and destroyed in this
world and in that to come, as the Targum of Jonathan; and MaimonidesF23In
Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 11. sect. 1. understands it of such a cutting off, that the
soul itself perishes and is no more; but such annihilation the Scripture
nowhere gives us any reason to believe:
his iniquity shall be upon him; the
punishment of it, no atonement being made for it by sacrifice; it shall be upon
him and him only, or be "in him"F24בה
"in ea", Montanus, Junins & Tremellius, Drusius; "in
ipso", Piscator. , not repented of and not forgiven.
Numbers 15:32 32 Now while the children of Israel were in the
wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.
YLT
32And the sons of Israel are
in the wilderness, and they find a man gathering wood on the sabbath-day,
And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness,.... According
to Aben Ezra, in the wilderness of Sinai; for it is a common notion of the
Jews, that though this fact is recorded here, yet was committed the first year
the Israelites came out of Egypt, quickly after the giving the law of the
sabbath: hence Jarchi remarks, that the Scripture speaks of this to the
reproach of the Israelites, that they kept only the first sabbath, and on the
second this man came and profaned it; but it seems rather to be in the
wilderness of Paran where this fact was committed, after the business of the
spies and the discomfiture of Israel, and the above laws were given; and stands
here in its proper place as an instance of a presumptuous sinner, cut off from
his people, according to the above law, which it immediately follows:
they found a man that gathered sticks on the sabbath day; plucking them
up by the roots, as the Targum of Jonathan, as stubble and the like; for the
word signifies gathering straw or stubble, or such like light things, as Ben
Melech observes, and binding them in bundles for fuel; and this was done on the
sabbath day, by which it appears that that was to be kept in the wilderness,
though the laws before mentioned concerning sacrifices, and the cake of the
first dough, were not to be put in execution until Israel came into the land of
Canaan; and according to the Targum of Jonathan this man was of the house of
Joseph, and in the TalmudF25T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 96. 2. it is
expressly said that he was Zelophehad, who was a descendant of Joseph.
Numbers 15:33 33 And those who found him gathering sticks brought him
to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation.
YLT
33and those finding him
gathering wood bring him near unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto all the
company,
And they that found him gathering sticks,....
Admonished him, as say the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi, but he would not
desist; wherefore they
brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation; to Moses and
Aaron, and to the seventy elders, who might be at this time met together, to
hear, try, and judge causes; for it cannot be thought that the whole body of
the people are meant; and it is most likely that it was not on the sabbath day,
but the day following, that they brought the man to them, who were then sitting
in the court; though Aben Ezra observes, that some say they brought him to them
the first night.
Numbers 15:34 34 They
put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to
him.
YLT
34and they place him in ward,
for it [is] not explained what is [to be] done to him.
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.
Numbers 15:35 35 Then the Lord said to
Moses, “The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone
him with stones outside the camp.”
YLT
35And Jehovah saith unto
Moses, `The man is certainly put to death, all the company stoning him with
stones, at the outside of the camp.'
And the Lord said unto Moses,.... Who consulted the
Lord upon this affair, in the tabernacle, even at the most holy place, from
above the mercy seat, where he promised to meet him, and commune with him about
whatsoever he should consult him, Exodus 25:22,
the man shall surely be put to death; for as no
fire was to be made throughout their habitations on a sabbath day, gathering
sticks for such a purpose was a work that was a violation of the sabbath,
punishable with death, Exodus 35:2; and
the kind of death follows:
all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp; as afterwards
without the city: of the place and manner of stoning; see Gill on Acts 7:58.
Numbers 15:36 36 So, as the Lord commanded Moses,
all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones,
and he died.
YLT
36And all the company bring
him out unto the outside of the camp, and stone him with stones, and he dieth,
as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.
And all the congregation brought him without the camp,.... What was
done by the order of Moses and the seventy elders is said to be done by the
whole congregation, though it was by a few persons only the man was actually
brought out, who were the proper officers to do such business:
and stoned him with stones, and he died: stoned him to
death:
as the Lord commanded Moses: at the time he consulted
him in the sanctuary, which he acquainted the court with, and they immediately
ordered the execution, which was accordingly done.
Numbers 15:37 37 Again the Lord spoke to
Moses, saying,
YLT
37And Jehovah speaketh unto
Moses, saying,
And the Lord spoke unto Moses,.... After the giving of
the above laws, and the order for stoning the sabbath breaker; and the rather
what follows is connected with them, because it was to put them in mind of
these and all other commands; and of so much importance is the precept directed
to, that the Jews say, and Jarchi particularly, that it is equivalent to all
the commands, and which he makes to be the reason of its being placed here:
saying; as follows.
Numbers 15:38 38 “Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make
tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to
put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners.
YLT
38`Speak unto the sons of
Israel, and thou hast said unto them, and they have made for themselves fringes
on the skirts of their garments, to their generations, and they have put on the
fringe of the skirt a ribbon of blue,
Speak unto the children of Israel,.... Whom it only
concerned, and all of them, except women and children; for priests, Levites,
Israelites, proselytes, and freed servants, were bound to wear the fringes, but
not Gentiles; nor might the Gentiles make them, what were made by them were not
to be usedF26Sepher Alphes, par. 1. fol. 439. 2. & 442. 1.
Schulchan Aruch, par. 1. c. 14. sect. 1. , since it follows:
and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their
garments, throughout their generations: the garments on which
these fringes were put were such that were made either of linen or of woollen;
no other were obliged to them by the law; but according to the Rabbins other
garments were also, yet only square garments, which they call the Talith; and
if that had not four skirts to it, it was free from themF1Schulchan
ib. c. 9. sect. 1. & c. 10. sect. 1. & c. 24. 1. : on this square
garment, and the four corners or skirts of it, were the fringes put; which were
a sort of pendants or tassels, which hung down from it, which consisted of
eight white woollen threads, sometimes four, sometimes eight or twelve fingers
broadF2Buxtorf. Synagog. Jud. c. 9. p. 160. ; there were four of
them, one at each skirt or corner of the garment: they were, as another writer
saysF3Leo Modena, History of the present Jews, par. 1. c. 5. sect.
7. , made of eight threads broad, each of them being knit to the middle with
five knots, and of wool spun on purpose for this use; and these were to be wore
by them throughout their generations until the Messiah came, and they seem to
have been worn by him, Matthew 9:20
however, it is certain they were worn by the Pharisees in his time, Matthew 23:5; at
present this four cornered garment is not any where in common use among the
Jews, instead of which they wear, under their other garments, a kind of square
frock, with the fringes or tassels fastened to it, and this they call Arbah
Canfot; and in their schools, and at certain times of prayer, they put on a
certain square woollen vestment, with the said pendants fastened at each
corner, and this they call TalithF4lb. sect. 9. :
and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a riband of blue; or a blue
lace, a piece of blue tape, which bound and kept the fringe tight and close,
and being of a different colour, the fringe being white, made it the more
conspicuous: the reason why this colour was used, the Jews sayF5T.
Bab. Sotah, fol. 17. 1. , was, because it was like the sea, and the like the
sky, and the sky like the throne of glory: this blue, hyacinth, or purple
colour, as the Jews generally take it to be, was of a peculiar dye; the manner
of making which is now unknown to them, and therefore they use only the whiteF6Maimon.
in Misn. Menachot, c. 4. sect. 1. .
Numbers 15:39 39 And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon
it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do
them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart
and your own eyes are inclined,
YLT
39and it hath been to you for
a fringe, and ye have seen it, and have remembered all the commands of Jehovah,
and have done them, and ye search not after your heart, and after your eyes,
after which ye are going a-whoring;
And it shall be unto you for a fringe,.... The blue
ribbon or lace shall be in or upon the fringe to fasten it:
that ye may look upon it; the blue lace making the
whole the more conspicuous: from hence the Jews gather, that the night is not
the time for wearing fringe, which lessens the sight, and it is not so easily
seen; and that night garments are not obliged to have the fringe on them; and
yet, they say, a blind man is bound to wear it, because, though he cannot see
it, others canF7Maimon. in Misn. Ediot, c. 4. sect. 10. &
Hilchot Tzitzith, c. 3. sect. 7. Schulchan Aruch, p. 1. c. 17. 1. & 18. 1.
:
and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them: this is the
general use, end, and design of the fringes, that upon sight of them they might
be put in mind of the commandments and put upon the practice of them; these
being at the four corners of their vestments, let them look which way they
would downwards, before or behind, or on either side, they could not but see
them: and the many threads in them might put them in mind of the many precepts
they were to observe; and the white colour, the purity and holiness of them;
and the blue or sky-coloured lace might lead them to observe the heavenly
original of them; or being of a purple colour rather, might direct them to the
blood of Christ, for the remission of the transgressions of them: the Jews have
many fanciful things about the use and virtue of these fringes, not worthy of
notice; and they say, that such who are careful to observe this law of the
fringe, are worthy to see the face of the divine Majesty, and will be preserved
from evil spiritsF8Baal Hatturim in loc. Schulchan Aruch, p. 1. c.
24. sect. 1,6. :
and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes; to have and
enjoy, and do those things, in matters of worship, which were of their own
devising, and pleasing in their sight, as well as in moral things, what were
agreeable to their carnal hearts, and make for the gratification of their
senses:
after which ye use to go a whoring; which seems to restrain
the sense pretty much to idolatry, to false and superstitious worship, which
are often in Scripture expressed by fornication and whoredom; though other sins
and lusts also are sometimes signified by the same words.
Numbers 15:40 40 and that you may remember and do all My commandments,
and be holy for your God.
YLT
40so that ye remember and
have done all My commands, and ye have been holy to your God;
That ye may remember and do all my commandments,.... Which is
repeated, that the end and use of these fringes might be particularly taken
notice of, and attended to; that so they might not satisfy themselves with and
rest in this ceremony of wearing the fringes, but be found in the observance of
every moral precept, and of every religious ordinance and duty:
and be holy unto your God: as in his presence,
according to his will, and for his honour and glory, by keeping his holy
commands, and living an holy life and conversation, well pleasing in his sight.
Numbers 15:41 41 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.”
YLT
41I [am] Jehovah your God,
who hath brought you out from the land of Egypt to become your God; I, Jehovah,
[am] your God.'
I am the Lord your God,.... Their Creator,
Preserver, and Benefactor, their Lord and Sovereign, their covenant God and
Father:
which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God; to make it
appear that he was their God in a special relation, and that he took the
special care and government of them; and which was manifest by the system of
laws he gave them to observe, as well as by his provision for them on all
accounts, and by his protection of them:
I am the Lord your God; who had a right to enact
laws, and enjoin the observance of them, as he was the Lord Jehovah; and they
were under obligation to regard them, as he was not only their Creator but
their covenant God and Father, who had bestowed his favours liberally on them.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)