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The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:2
When ye be come into the land. The same formula is used in Le Numbers 23:10 concerning the wave-sheaf. It is only remarkable here because it tacitly assumes—
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:3
A burnt offering, or a sacrifice, i.e; a whole burnt offering, or a slain offering. There should be a comma after the word "sacrifice." In performing a vow, or in a free-will offering, or in your solemn feasts. The burn…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:4
A meat offering. See on Leviticus 2:1-16. The command to add the meat offering in every such case had not been given before, but it had apparently been the practice (see Le Leviticus 23:18) in accordance with the law of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:5
A drink offering. This is nowhere separately treated of in Leviticus, but it is mentioned along with the meat offering in the passages just referred to. Libations are amongst the simplest and most universal of offerings…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:6
Or for a ram. The meat and drink offerings were to be proportionate in amount to the size of the victim.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:8
Peace offerings. The sacrifices made of free-will, or made on solemn feast-days, would commonly be peace offerings (see on Leviticus 7:1-38).
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:9
Then shall he bring. The rapid interchange of the second and third persons in these verses is awkward and perplexing. No doubt it is due to some sufficiently simple cause in the inditing of the original record, but we a…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:12
According to the number. The strict proportion of the meat and drink offerings was to be carried out with respect to the numbers, as well as the individual value, of the sacrifices.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:13
All that are born of the country. כָּל־הָאֶזְרָח, all the native born. Septuagint, πᾶς ὁ αὐτόχθων. The phrase is used no doubt from the point of view of a resident in Canaan; but it was only to such residents that t…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:14
A stranger. Septuagint, προσήλυτος.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:15
One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, &c. Rather, "As for the congregation ( הַקָּהָל construed absolutely), one law for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth, an eternal ordinance for your genera…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:17
And the Lord spake unto Moses. Whether on the same or on some other occasion we cannot tell. The two enactments have the same supplemental and (humanly speaking) trivial character.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:17-21
AN OFFERING FROM THE DOUGH: DOMESTIC RELIGION I. A DALLY OFFERING, or if not daily, be practically daily. God has spoken so far of free-will offerings, but here is one connected with such a frequent and necessary act as…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:19
When ye eat of the bread of the land. A thing which the younger Israelites, few of whom had ever tasted bread, must have eagerly looked forward to (see on Joshua 5:11, Joshua 5:12). An heave offering. See on Exodus 29:2…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:20
A cake of the first of your dough. עַרִסֹת, only used here and in the two passages which refer to this enactment (Nehemiah 10:1-39 :87; Ezekiel 44:30). It probably means whole meal coarsely ground, the first preparation…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:22
And if ye have erred. The absence of the usual formula, "and the Lord spake unto Moses," is singular, because what follows has reference not to the enactment just made, but to the whole Law. Perhaps it is a part of the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:22-29
GOD SHOWS HIMSELF STRICT AND YET CONSIDERATE I. THE SERIOUSNESS OF GOD'S EXPECTATIONS. God gave to Israel many and elaborate commandments, in the mode of obeying' which he left nothing to personal discretion. Hence the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:22-31
PRESUMPTUOUS SINS AND SINS OF IGNORANCE Some sins are more heinous in the sight of God than others; more heinous in their own nature, or by reason of aggravating circumstances. The distinction is familiar to all. Murder…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:23
From the day that the Lord commanded … and henceforward among your generations. Or, "thenceforward according to your generations." These words are obscure, because they point apparently to a much larger lapse of time si…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:24
If ought be committed. Rather, "if it be committed," i.e; the non-observance of "all these commandments." It cannot, however, be necessary to suppose that a falling away from the whole body of the Mosaic legislation is…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:26
Seeing all the people were in ignorance. Literally, "because (sc. it happened) to the whole nation in ignorance." As the stranger was counted as of the nation for religious purposes, he shared both in its sin and in its…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:27
And if any soul sin through ignorance. No doubt by way of omission, as in the preceding case, and thus this regulation will be distinguished from that in Le Numbers 4:27. In either case the ritual is apparently intended…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:30-36
THE DOOM OF THE PRESUMPTUOUS ILLUSTRATED BY THAT OF THE SABBATH- BREAKER Disobedience to the commands of God is ranged under two classes. First, that which has just been considered, disobedience through ignorance; secon…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 15:30
The soul that doeth … presumptuously. Literally, "with a high hand," i.e; defiantly. A similar phrase is used of God himself (Exodus 13:9). The same reproacheth the Lord, מְגַדֵּף, revileth. Septuagint, παροξυνεῖ In Ez…