Numbers 15
Numbers 15 contains regulations for offerings to be observed after Israel enters the land, instructions concerning unintentional sins and defiant sins, the case of a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath, and the command to wear tassels. Coming after the judgment in Numbers 14, the chapter also signals that God still speaks about Israel’s future in the land.
1verseThe LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2verse“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you have come into the land of your habitations, which I give to you,
3verseand will make an offering by fire to the LORD—a burnt offering, or a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or as a free will offering, or in your set feasts, to make a pleasant aroma to the LORD, of the herd, or of the flock—
4versethen he who offers his offering shall offer to the LORD a meal offering of one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one fourth of a hin of oil.
5verseYou shall prepare wine for the drink offering, one fourth of a hin, with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice, for each lamb.
6verse“‘For a ram, you shall prepare for a meal offering two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the third part of a hin of oil;
7verseand for the drink offering you shall offer the third part of a hin of wine, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD.
8verseWhen you prepare a bull for a burnt offering or for a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or for peace offerings to the LORD,
9versethen he shall offer with the bull a meal offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil;
10verseand you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD.
11verseThus it shall be done for each bull, for each ram, for each of the male lambs, or of the young goats.
12verseAccording to the number that you shall prepare, so you shall do to everyone according to their number.
13verse“‘All who are native-born shall do these things in this way, in offering an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD.
14verseIf a stranger lives as a foreigner with you, or whoever may be among you throughout your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD, as you do, so he shall do.
15verseFor the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner, a statute forever throughout your generations. As you are, so the foreigner shall be before the LORD.
16verseOne law and one ordinance shall be for you and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner with you.’”
17verseThe LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
18verse“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you come into the land where I bring you,
19versethen it shall be that when you eat of the bread of the land, you shall offer up a wave offering to the LORD.
20verseOf the first of your dough you shall offer up a cake for a wave offering. As the wave offering of the threshing floor, so you shall heave it.
21verseOf the first of your dough, you shall give to the LORD a wave offering throughout your generations.
22verse“‘When you err, and don’t observe all these commandments which the LORD has spoken to Moses—
23verseeven all that the LORD has commanded you by Moses, from the day that the LORD gave commandment and onward throughout your generations—
24versethen it shall be, if it was done unwittingly, without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bull for a burnt offering, for a pleasant aroma to the LORD, with its meal offering and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one male goat for a sin offering.
25verseThe priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and they shall be forgiven; for it was an error, and they have brought their offering, an offering made by fire to the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their error.
26verseAll the congregation of the children of Israel shall be forgiven, as well as the stranger who lives as a foreigner among them; for with regard to all the people, it was done unwittingly.
27verse“‘If a person sins unwittingly, then he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering.
28verseThe priest shall make atonement for the soul who errs when he sins unwittingly before the LORD. He shall make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven.
29verseYou shall have one law for him who does anything unwittingly, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner among them.
30verse“‘But the soul who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, blasphemes the LORD. That soul shall be cut off from among his people.
31verseBecause he has despised the LORD’s word, and has broken his commandment, that soul shall be utterly cut off. His iniquity shall be on him.’”
32verseWhile the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.
33verseThose who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation.
34verseThey put him in custody, because it had not been declared what should be done to him.
35verseThe LORD said to Moses, “The man shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him with stones outside of the camp.”
36verseAll the congregation brought him outside of the camp, and stoned him to death with stones, as the LORD commanded Moses.
37verseThe LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
38verse“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them that they should make themselves fringes on the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put on the fringe of each border a cord of blue.
39verseIt shall be to you for a fringe, that you may see it, and remember all the LORD’s commandments, and do them; and that you don’t follow your own heart and your own eyes, after which you used to play the prostitute;
40verseso that you may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.
41verseI am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”
Sacrificial Regulations for Life in the Land (Verses 1–21)
God gives instructions for offerings that will be presented in the land, including burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, and offerings from the first of the dough. These regulations apply to both native Israelites and resident foreigners, emphasizing one standard for worship within the covenant community.
Atonement for Unintentional Sins (Verses 22–29)
This section explains how the community or an individual may receive atonement for sins committed unintentionally. The passage recognizes human failure while also providing a path of restoration through confession and the prescribed offering.
A Warning About Defiant Sin (Verses 30–36)
Defiant or “high-handed” sin is treated with great seriousness because it openly despises the word of the LORD. The case of the man gathering sticks on the Sabbath illustrates the gravity of knowingly violating a command in the covenant community. The focus is not ordinary failure, but deliberate contempt for God’s instruction.
The Tassels on Garments (Verses 37–41)
God commands the Israelites to make tassels on the corners of their garments with a blue cord. These tassels are to help them remember the LORD’s commandments and their identity as a people brought out of Egypt. The visible sign is meant to train memory, obedience, and holiness in daily life.
Meditation Points
- Notice that God speaks of future life in the land even after a serious failure.
- Reflect on the difference between unintentional failure and deliberate contempt for what is right.
- Consider what visible or repeated practices help you remember the truth you are called to live by.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Let your daily habits become reminders of what you believe and value.
- When you fail unintentionally, respond with honesty and restoration rather than denial.
- Guard your heart against deliberate hardening toward what you know to be right.