Números 15

Números 15

Lenski has an excellent comment - The principle back of all that God ordered in his law regarding the Sabbath was that it might be a blessing for man. This day afforded man physical rest and, still more important, time to attend to his spiritual needs. But the Jews had inverted this. They treated man as if he had been created for the purpose of keeping the Sabbath laws. The Sabbath had to be kept, no matter how man fared, whereas God intended that man should be blessed—by the Sabbath, of course, but, if necessary, even at the expense of the Sabbath. (ISMG) Kistemaker adds that "The sabbath was instituted to be a blessing for man: to keep him healthy, to make him happy, and to render him holy. Man was not created to be the sabbath’s slave." (BNTC) The Jews themselves recognized the burden of the Sabbath writing “the rules about the Sabbath...are as mountains hanging by a hair, for [teaching of] Scripture [thereon] is scanty and the rules many” (m. Ḥag. 1:8)." FLB - Sacrifice was an act of worship, not merely a ritual done for atonement. Offerings might be brought for a variety of reasons including to give thanks to Yahweh, to fulfill a vow, to commemorate a religious festival, or as a freewill offering (see Lev 7:12–18; 22:18–33). The sacrifices brought for these varied occasions were generally either burnt offerings (olah) or peace offerings (zevach shelamim; see Num 15:8; compare Lev 3:1–17). to make a soothing aroma to the LORD, from the herd or from the flock - Soothing (nihoah) is translated in Lxx with osme meaning fragrance, odor, smell (see use in Eph 5:2+, Php 4:18+, 2 Cor 2:14 = believers). The concept is that the smoke from the sacrifice ascends "heavenward" to Yahweh and it satisfies and please Him. Soothing (sweet) (05207)(nihoah from nuach = to rest) means a quieting, soothing, tranquilizing. In 20 of the 43 uses of nichoach, this noun (usually with the sense of an adjective) is used with the phrase "burnt offering." Almost all uses describe the odor of a sacrifice as pleasing or acceptable to God. Sadly, we see this word used to describe Israel's offering to idols (Ezek 6:13+, Ezek 15:19, Ezek 20:28), which is in stark contrast with Jehovah's assessment of His rebellious people in Ezek 20:14 where they are described as a soothing aroma! The first use of nihoah describes the sacrifice of Noah (Ge 8:21) Soothing aroma - This phrase is found 42x - Gen. 8:21; Exod. 29:18; Exod. 29:25; Exod. 29:41; Lev. 1:9; Lev. 1:13; Lev. 1:17; Lev. 2:2; Lev. 2:9; Lev. 2:12; Lev. 3:5; Lev. 3:16; Lev. 4:31; Lev. 6:15; Lev. 6:21; Lev. 8:21; Lev. 8:28; Lev. 17:6; Lev. 23:13; Lev. 23:18; Num. 15:3; Num. 15:7; Num. 15:10; Num. 15:13; Num. 15:14; Num. 15:24; Num. 18:17; Num. 28:2; Num. 28:6; Num. 28:8; Num. 28:13; Num. 28:24; Num. 28:27; Num. 29:2; Num. 29:6; Num. 29:8; Num. 29:13; Num. 29:36; Ezek. 6:13; Ezek. 16:19; Ezek. 20:28; Ezek. 20:41 Numbers 15:4 'The 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, Grain (KJV): Ex 29:40 Lev 2:1 6:14 7:9,10 Lev 23:10-14 Isa 66:20 Mal 1:11 Ro 15:16 Heb 13:16 the fourth: Nu 28:5-8 Ex 29:40 Lev 2:15 14:10 23:13 Jud 9:9 Eze 46:14 See Table of Levitical Offerings below Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Wiersbe emphasizes that "The sacrifices discussed in these verses were spontaneous expressions of love and gratitude to God." (Ibid) The one who presents his offering shall present to the LORD - The three words at the beginning of this verse are all etymologically related: “the one who offers his offering shall offer.” (NET) Bush on the one - That is, of any of the above-mentioned species. The meat-offerings (i.e. meal-offerings) were of two kinds, some being offered alone, respecting which the law is given Lev. 2:1, 2, etc., and others being added as a constant accompaniment to the burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, in respect to which the present directions are given. The intent of this law is, to prescribe what proportion the meat-offering and the drink-offering should bear to the several sacrifices to which they were annexed. The general rule that regulated the whole subject was this: That all sacrifices of beasts burnt upon the altar, whether by way of vow, or voluntary gift, being of the nature of a spiritual feast, were each of them to have a meat-offering as an appendage, consisting of flour, oil, and wine, in the following proportions, viz. to every lamb or kid a tenth-deal or omer of flour (about five pints), a quart of oil, and a quart of wine; to every ram, double the quantity of flour, the third of a gallon of wine, and as much of oil; to a bullock the largest sacrifice, three omers of flour, half a gallon of oil, and as much of wine; and so on, the same quantities being prescribed for each, whatever the number of the beasts offered at the altar. But the particulars will be more minutely considered as we proceed. a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil - An ephah was about half a bushel. Fine flour would be the best available. Note that grain, flour, oil would not be products they would grow in the wilderness, but would grow once they entered the Promised Land. ESVSB explains why we have all these details about grain (flour here), oil and wine (see passages below) - Leviticus 1–7 explains how each type of sacrifice is to be conducted, but does not explain that burnt offerings (Leviticus 1) and peace offerings (Leviticus 3) must be accompanied by appropriate quantities of meal, oil, and wine. This may be because such materials were not available in the wilderness (ED: Leviticus was given before they set out from Sinai) Bush on hin of oil - A hin was a liquid measure of the sanctuary containing one gallon and two pints; a fourth part of this of course was one quart and half a pint. NET NOTE - Obviously, as the wording of the text affirms, this kind of offering would be made after they were in the land and able to produce the grain and oil for the sacrifices. The instructions anticipated their ability to do this, and this would give hope to them. The amounts are difficult to determine, but it may be that they were to bring 4.5 liters of flour and 1.8 liters each of oil and wine. Believers Study Bible - Once Israel began farming the land, grain and drink offerings were always to accompany burnt and peace offerings. A portion of the grain offering was burnt, and the rest was given to the priest. The drink offering may have been poured out at the foot of the altar. Related Resource: What are the modern equivalents of biblical weights and measures? | GotQuestions.org Numbers 15:5 and you shall prepare wine for the drink offering, one-fourth of a hin, with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice, for each lamb. Nu 28:7,14 Jud 9:13 Ps 116:13 Song 1:4 Zec 9:17 Mt 26:28,29 Php 2:17 2Ti 4:6 See Table of Levitical Offerings below Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries and you shall prepare wine for the drink offering, one-fourth of a hin, with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice, for each lamb - "Heb. lannesek, for an effusion, for a poured-out offering or libation, because it was poured out on the altar, but not on the fire. The priest had none of it." (Bush) FLB - This meal offering and its wine libation are relevant for a future time when the people live in the land (Num 15:2), as they are products of a settled agricultural society. The practices are attested to early in Israel’s occupation of the land (1 Sam 1:24; 10:3). Numbers 15:6 '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; NET Numbers 15:6 Or for a ram, you must prepare as a grain offering two-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with one-third of a hin of olive oil, NLT Numbers 15:6 "If the sacrifice is a ram, give a grain offering of four quarts of choice flour mixed with a third of a gallon of olive oil, ESV Numbers 15:6 Or for a ram, you shall offer for a grain offering two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a third of a hin of oil. NIV Numbers 15:6 " 'With a ram prepare a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a third of a hin of oil, KJV Numbers 15:6 Or for Nu 15:4 28:12-14 See Table of Levitical Offerings below Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries 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 - NLT helps get a sense of the meaning of the Hebrew measures = "If the sacrifice is a ram, give a grain offering of four quarts of choice flour mixed with a third of a gallon of olive oil, As discussed earlier (see point # 3 at v3), these are relatively large quantities (of fine flour, oil) and would by implication indicate that they would have abundance of these products when they entered the promised land. Numbers 15:7 and for the drink offering you shall offer one-third of a hin of wine as a soothing aroma to the LORD. NET Numbers 15:7 and for a drink offering you must offer one-third of a hin of wine as a pleasing aroma to the LORD. NLT Numbers 15:7 and give a third of a gallon of wine as a liquid offering. This will be a pleasing aroma to the LORD. ESV Numbers 15:7 And for the drink offering you shall offer a third of a hin of wine, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. NIV Numbers 15:7 and a third of a hin of wine as a drink offering. Offer it as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. KJV Numbers 15:7 And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet savour unto the LORD. See Table of Levitical Offerings below Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries And for the drink offering you shall offer one-third of a hin of wine - NLT = "and give a third of a gallon of wine as a liquid offering. This will be a pleasing aroma to the LORD." A third of a gallon is a lot of wine - again indicating they would have an abundant harvest of grapes in the Promised Land. FLB on drink offering - Drink offerings are not covered in the detailed account of the various offerings in Lev 1–7, but they are often mentioned elsewhere in association with various offerings (e.g., Nu 6:15; 28:7; Ex 29:40–41; Lev 23:18). Compare Leviticus 1:9b (see notes) "And the priest shall offer up in smoke all of it on the altar for a burnt offering, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the LORD. " As a soothing aroma to the LORD - NLT = "This sacrifice will be very pleasing to the LORD." As discussed above (see point # 3 at v3 and v7 above) the pleasant aspect of the aroma from the burning of these sacrifices and offerings was but a faint shadow of the fulfillment when the Lamb of God Himself was offered as a sin sacrifice to the Father which Paul says was "an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." (Eph 5:2+) Numbers 15:8 'When you prepare a bull as a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a special vow, or for peace offerings to the LORD, peace: Lev 3:1 Lev 7:11-18 See Table of Levitical Offerings below Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Leviticus 3:1+ ‘Now if his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he is going to offer out of the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without defect before the LORD. OFFERINGS FOR SPECIAL VOWS When you prepare a bull as a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a special vow, or for peace offerings to the LORD - NLT - "When you present a young bull as a burnt offering or as a sacrifice to fulfill a vow or as a peace offering to the LORD." BSB - According to Lev. 7:11-36, there were three types of peace offerings: (1) the thanksgiving offering, (2) the vow or votive offering, and (3) the freewill offering (cf. Lev. 3:1)....Peace offerings could be of the herd (cattle, Lev 3:1-5), or of the flock (sheep, Lev 3:6-11, or goats, Lev 3:12-17). These peace offerings were categorized according to three types: (1) thank offering (Lev 7:12-15; 22:29, 30), (2) votive offering (Lev 7:16-18; 22:18-25), and (3) freewill offering (Lev 7:16-18; 22:18-25). The distinctive feature of the peace offering is that it culminated in a sacrificial meal (Lev 7:15, 16; 22:29, 30); consequently, it was restricted to bulls, sheep, or goats, as turtledoves or pigeons would have been insufficient. The peace offering dramatized peace and reconciliation between the offeror and God (cf. Rom. 5:1; Col. 1:20). See chart, "The Levitical Offerings," Peace offerings (08002)(selem/shelem) is a noun which means fellowship offerings, thanksgiving offerings and all uses (except Amos 5:22) are in the plural form (selamim). The root Hebrew word conveys the idea of completion and fulfillment, of entering into a state of wholeness and unity, a restored relationship. The peace offerings were voluntary offerings (like burnt and grain offerings) given to God with thanks and praise. Selem is translated in the Lxx in most of its uses with the adjective soterios/soterion which describes the act of delivering or saving from great danger or peril and of healing, making whole, protecting and preserving. The significance of this particular Greek word in the context of the OT peace offerings is uncertain and it certainly does not imply that the human participants are "saved" in the classic NT sense as when by grace they believe in Jesus. Liddell-Scott give one instance in which soterios is used by Xenophon in the context of a thank offering for deliverance. Carr - Current understanding of the meaning of šelem follows three main lines of thought. First, šelem symbolizes the gift of shalom, i.e. the blessing of wholeness, prosperity, and the status of being at peace with God. This involves more than forgiveness of sin, in that fullness of life, prosperity, and peace with men is the expected result of shalom status. A second alternative is identified by de Vaux as “communion sacrifice,” i.e. one in which there is a sharing of the sacrificial animal and the resultant fellowship around a meal. The šĕlāmîm, then, were social occasions “before” (Hebrew = panim = face) the Lord never “with” the Lord (Dt 12:7, 18; 14:23, 26; 15:20). There is no sense of attaining mystical union with God through these sacrifices. Rather there is a sense of joyful sharing because of God’s presence. Note too, that a quarter of the animal is shared with the priest (Lev 7:32).Thirdly, the fact that the šelem usually comes last in the lists of the offerings (though not in the description of Lev 1–5), has prompted some scholars to argue that this is a “concluding sacrifice.” This derives šelem from the rare Piel meaning “to complete.” If this sense is correct, the NT references to Christ our Peace (e.g. Eph 2:14) become more meaningful, as he is the final sacrifice for us (cf. Heb 9:27; Heb 10:12)." (TWOT) Numbers 15:9 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; with a: Nu 28:12,14 Grain Nu 29:6 Lev 6:14 Lev 7:37 14:10 1Ch 21:23 Ne 10:33 Eze 42:13 Eze 46:5,7,11,15 Joe 1:9 2:14 See Table of Levitical Offerings below Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ADDITION OF OIL TO THE GRAIN OFFERING 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 - NLT = " you must also give a grain offering of six quarts of choice flour mixed with two quarts of olive oil." These offerings of grain and oil were not discussed in the original peace offering in Leviticus.