Numbers 15

King James Version

Full text for Numbers Chapter 15

1¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you,

3And will make an offering by fire unto 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 savour unto the LORD, of the herd, or of the flock:

4Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the LORD bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth [part] of an hin of oil.

5And the fourth [part] of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb.

6Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare [for] a meat offering two tenth deals of flour mingled with the third [part] of an hin of oil.

7And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third [part] of an hin of wine, [for] a sweet savour unto the LORD.

8And when thou preparest a bullock [for] a burnt offering, or [for] a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace offerings unto the LORD:

9Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil.

10And thou shalt bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine, [for] an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

11Thus shall it be done for one bullock, or for one ram, or for a lamb, or a kid.

12According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to every one according to their number.

13All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

14And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever [be] among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; as ye do, so he shall do.

15One ordinance [shall be both] for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth [with you], an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye [are], so shall the stranger be before the LORD.

16One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.

17And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

18Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you,

19Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the LORD.

20Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough [for] an heave offering: as [ye do] the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.

21Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations.

22¶ And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses,

23[Even] all that the LORD hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded [Moses], and henceforward among your generations;

24Then 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 savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.

25And 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 unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance:

26And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people [were] in ignorance.

27And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.

28And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.

29Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, [both for] him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.

30¶ But the soul that doeth [ought] presumptuously, [whether he be] born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

31Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity [shall be] upon him.

32And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

33And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.

34And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

35And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.

36And 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 spake unto Moses, saying,

38Speak unto 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 upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:

39And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:

40That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.

41I [am] the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I [am] the LORD your God.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Numbers 15 outlines various laws for Israel upon entering the Promised Land, including specific requirements for burnt, meat, and drink offerings, applicable to both native-born and strangers. It details provisions for unintentional sins by the congregation or individuals, contrasting them with the severe punishment for presumptuous sin, exemplified by a Sabbath-breaker's execution. The chapter concludes with the command to wear fringes on garments as a reminder to obey God's commandments and remain holy.

Medium Summary

Numbers 15 begins by detailing the required accompanying offerings—meat and drink offerings—for various animal sacrifices, such as burnt offerings, vow offerings, and freewill offerings, specifying quantities based on the animal. These regulations are explicitly extended to include both native Israelites and sojourning strangers, emphasizing one law for all. The chapter then commands the offering of a heave offering from the first of their dough upon entering the land. It differentiates between sins committed in ignorance, for which atonement can be made through specific sacrifices for the congregation or individuals, and presumptuous sins, which are met with the severe penalty of being cut off from the people. This distinction is illustrated by the stoning of a man who gathered sticks on the Sabbath. Finally, the LORD instructs the Israelites to wear fringes with a blue ribband on their garments, serving as a perpetual reminder to observe all His commandments and avoid following their own desires, thereby remaining holy unto God.

Long Summary

Numbers 15 provides a series of divine ordinances given to Moses for the children of Israel to observe once they enter the land of Canaan. The chapter first details the specific requirements for various offerings, including burnt offerings, offerings for vows, freewill offerings, and those made during solemn feasts. It meticulously prescribes the quantities of flour, oil, and wine for the accompanying meat and drink offerings, varying according to whether the primary sacrifice is a lamb, ram, or bullock. A significant emphasis is placed on the inclusivity of these laws, stating that both native-born Israelites and sojourning strangers are bound by the same ordinances and laws regarding these offerings. Following this, the LORD commands the Israelites to offer a heave offering from the first of their dough when they begin to eat of the land's produce, establishing this as a perpetual custom. The chapter then addresses the critical distinction between unintentional and deliberate sin. For sins committed in ignorance by the entire congregation, a specific ritual involving a young bullock for a burnt offering and a kid for a sin offering is prescribed, allowing for atonement and forgiveness. Similarly, an individual sinning through ignorance is to offer a she-goat, and atonement will be made for them. However, a stark contrast is drawn with presumptuous sin, defined as acting defiantly or despising the word of the LORD. Such an individual, whether native or stranger, is to be "cut off" from the people, bearing their own iniquity. This severe consequence is immediately exemplified by the case of a man found gathering sticks on the Sabbath day, who, after consultation with the LORD, is commanded to be stoned to death by the entire congregation outside the camp. The chapter concludes with the institution of fringes (tzitzit) on the borders of their garments, with a blue ribband. This visual reminder is intended to prompt the Israelites to remember and obey all of God's commandments, preventing them from straying after their own hearts and eyes, and ultimately enabling them to be holy unto their God, who brought them out of Egypt.

Core Concepts

  • Sacrificial OfferingsThe chapter details specific requirements for various offerings, including burnt, meat, and drink offerings, specifying quantities of flour, oil, and wine to accompany animal sacrifices like lambs, rams, and bullocks. These offerings are presented to the LORD for a "sweet savour."
  • Inclusivity of LawA key theme is that the ordinances and laws regarding offerings and sin apply equally to both native-born Israelites and sojourning strangers living among them. The text explicitly states, "One ordinance shall be both for you... and also for the stranger."
  • Sins of IgnoranceProvisions are made for atonement when the congregation or an individual commits a sin "through ignorance" or "unwittingly." Specific sacrifices, such as a bullock or a she-goat, are prescribed for these unintentional transgressions, allowing for forgiveness.
  • Presumptuous SinIn stark contrast to ignorant sin, the chapter defines "presumptuous" sin as a defiant act of despising the word of the LORD and breaking His commandment. Such a soul, whether native or stranger, is to be "cut off from among his people," bearing their own iniquity.
  • Sabbath ObservanceThe severity of presumptuous sin is illustrated by the case of a man found gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. His deliberate violation of the Sabbath commandment, a direct affront to God's law, resulted in his execution by stoning as commanded by the LORD.
  • Fringes (Tzitzit)Israelites are commanded to wear fringes with a blue ribband on the borders of their garments. This visual aid serves as a perpetual reminder to look upon them, remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them, preventing them from following their own desires and encouraging holiness.
  • Holiness and RemembranceThe ultimate purpose of the fringes and the laws is for Israel to remember God's commandments, do them, and avoid spiritual "whoring" after their own hearts and eyes. This adherence to divine law is essential for them to "be holy unto your God," who brought them out of Egypt.