Numbers 15:34-41

34 They held him in custody because they did not know what to do with him.

35 Then the LORD said to Moses, “The man must be put to death! The whole community must stone him outside the camp.”

36 So the whole community took the man outside the camp and stoned him to death, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

37 Then the LORD said to Moses,

38 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord.

39 When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the LORD instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do.

40 The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God.

41 I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the LORD your God!”

Numbers 15:34-41 Meaning and Commentary

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, Nu 15:1-12; 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, Nu 15:13-16; and an order is given them to offer a cake of the first dough for an heave offering, Nu 15:17-21; and they are directed what sacrifices to offer for sins of ignorance, both of the congregation and particular persons, Nu 14:22-29; but as for presumptuous sinners, they were to be cut off, Nu 14:30,31; and an instance is recorded of stoning a sabbath breaker, Nu 14:32-36; and the chapter is concluded with a law for wearing fringes on the borders of their garments, the use of which is expressed, Nu 14:35-41.