Numbers 15:1-13

Laws for Canaan

1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "¹Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land where you are to live, which I am giving you,

3 then make ²an offering by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering or a sacrifice to ³fulfill a special vow, or as a freewill offering or in your ⁴appointed times, to make a ⁵soothing aroma to the LORD, from the herd or from the flock.

4 '⁶The one who presents his offering shall present to the LORD a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil,

5 and you shall prepare wine for the drink offering, one-fourth of a hin, with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice, for ⁷each lamb.

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;

7 and for the drink offering you shall offer one-third of a hin of wine as a soothing aroma to the LORD.

8 'When you prepare ⁸a bull * as a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a special vow, or for peace offerings to the LORD,

9 then you shall offer with the bull * a grain offering of three-tenths * of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-half a hin of oil;

10 and you shall offer as the drink offering one-half a hin of wine as an offering by fire, as a soothing aroma to the LORD.

11 'Thus it shall be done for each ox, or for each ram, or for each of the male lambs, or of the goats.

12 'According to the number that you prepare, so you shall do for everyone according to their number.

13 'All who are native shall do these things in this manner, in presenting an offering by fire, as a soothing aroma to the LORD.

Numbers 15:1-13 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.

Cross References

• 1. Leviticus 23:10
• 2. Leviticus 1:2, 3
• 3. Leviticus 22:21
• 4. Leviticus 23:1-44
• 5. Genesis 8:21; 2 Corinthians 2:15, 16; Philippians 4:18
• 6. Num 28:1-29:40
• 7. Leviticus 1:10; Leviticus 3:6; Numbers 15:11
• 8. Leviticus 1:3; Leviticus 3:1

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "of your dwellings"
• [b]. Or "make a special votive offering"
• [c]. I.e. Approx one gal., and so through v 10
• [d]. Or "make a special votive offering"