Números 15
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Números 15
Wiersbe comments that "Sometimes we sin against the Lord by what we do, and sometimes by what we don’t do (Luke 7:36–50). Sins of ignorance aren’t automatically forgiven just because we unintentionally forgot God’s commands; these sins must be confessed to the Lord just as we confess sins of commission (1 John 1:9+). The fact that God forgave sins of omission didn’t mean He was “easy on sin,” because blood still had to be shed before the sinner could be forgiven." Bush - If any soul sin through ignorance. That is, any person. Chaldee “If one man.” As in what precedes allusion is had to cases where the sin in question could be considered as that of the whole congregation, so in the present passage the sin of a single individual, acting on his sole responsibility is treated of, and the appointed sacrifice specified. Such a private person, when guilty of any mistake or neglect in the worship of God through inadvertence, ill example, or infirmity, was required, as soon as he became sensible of his offence, to bring a female goat to the priest, for a sin-offering, the penitent oblation of which would exempt him from any farther penalty. Made atonement (03722) see note above on kapar Numbers 15:29 'You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native among the sons of Israel and for the alien who sojourns among them. NET Numbers 15:29 You must have one law for the person who sins unintentionally, both for the native-born among the Israelites and for the resident foreigner who lives among them. NLT Numbers 15:29 These same instructions apply both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you. ESV Numbers 15:29 You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native among the people of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them. NIV Numbers 15:29 One and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether he is a native-born Israelite or an alien. KJV Numbers 15:29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them. YLT Numbers 15:29 for the native among the sons of Israel, and for the sojourner who is sojourning in their midst -- one law is to you, for him who is doing anything through ignorance. one law: Nu 15:15 9:14 Lev 16:29 17:15 Ro 3:29,30 Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAME RULES FOR NATIVE AND ALIEN You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native among the sons of Israel and for the alien who sojourns among them - Aliens were subject to the same laws as the native Israelites. These stipulations for aliens imply that some of the pagans will be attracted to the God of the Israelites and will join in His worship. "There was to be no exception. Sin is sin, and must be accounted as such, even if the motive seemed good." (Guzik) Numbers 15:30 'But the person who does anything defiantly, whether he is native or an alien, that one is blaspheming the LORD; and that person shall be cut off from among his people. BGT Numbers 15:30 καὶ ψυχή ἥτις ποιήσει ἐν χειρὶ ὑπερηφανίας ἀπὸ τῶν αὐτοχθόνων ἢ ἀπὸ τῶν προσηλύτων τὸν θεὸν οὗτος παροξύνει ἐξολεθρευθήσεται ἡ ψυχὴ ἐκείνη ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτῆς NET Numbers 15:30 "'But the person who acts defiantly, whether native-born or a resident foreigner, insults the LORD. That person must be cut off from among his people. NLT Numbers 15:30 "But those who brazenly violate the LORD's will, whether native-born Israelites or foreigners, have blasphemed the LORD, and they must be cut off from the community. ESV Numbers 15:30 But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. NIV Numbers 15:30 " 'But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or alien, blasphemes the LORD, and that person must be cut off from his people. KJV Numbers 15:30 But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. YLT Numbers 15:30 'And the person who doth aught with a high hand -- of the native or of the sojourner -- Jehovah he is reviling, and that person hath been cut off from the midst of his people; LXE Numbers 15:30 And whatever soul either of the natives or of the strangers shall do any thing with a presumptuous hand, he will provoke God; that soul shall be cut off from his people, ASV Numbers 15:30 But the soul that doeth aught with a high hand, whether he be home-born or a sojourner, the same blasphemeth Jehovah; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. CSB Numbers 15:30 "But the person who acts defiantly, whether native or foreign resident, blasphemes the LORD. That person is to be cut off from his people. NKJ Numbers 15:30 `But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the LORD, and he shall be cut off from among his people. NRS Numbers 15:30 But whoever acts high-handedly, whether a native or an alien, affronts the LORD, and shall be cut off from among the people. NAB Numbers 15:30 "But anyone who sins defiantly, whether he be a native or an alien, insults the LORD, and shall be cut off from among his people. who does anything Nu 9:13 14:44 Ge 17:14 Ex 21:14 Lev 20:3,6,10 De 1:43 17:12 De 29:19,20 Ps 19:13 Mt 12:32 Heb 10:26,29 2Pe 2:10 blaspheming the LORD: Ps 69:9 74:18,22 79:12 89:51 Pr 14:31 Isa 37:23,24 Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Psalms 19:13+ Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression. Comment: A good prayer to pray! In Jesus' Name. Amen. Matthew 12:32+ “Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. Hebrews 10:26; 29+ For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (10:29) How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 2 Peter 2:20+ For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. SINNING WITH A "HIGH HAND" 'But the person who does anything defiantly - KJV = "presumptuously." Hebrew = "with a high hand." That is, bold, daring, deliberate acts of transgression against the fullest evidence, and in despite of the Divine authority. Such conduct "reproacheth the Lord," as if his commands were needless, unreasonable, and inimical to the happiness of man; his favour were not desirable, or his wrath not to be feared: in short, as if it were more advantageous to rebel against him than to serve him. Such acts admitted of no atonement: the person was condemned to bear his own iniquity, and to be cut off. We have seen an example of a presumptuous sin, sinning with a high hand in Numbers 9:13+ related to the Passover, Moses recording ‘But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, and yet neglects to observe the Passover, that person shall then be cut off (karath; Lxx - exolothreuo) from his people, (WHY SO SEVERE?) FOR he did not present the offering of the LORD at its appointed time. That man will bear his sin. ESVSB - Cut off probably means dying suddenly and mysteriously as a divine punishment, though some interpreters think it sometimes may refer to excommunication from Israel or judicial execution. (For other offenses that merit this penalty, cf. Lev. 17:4, 9; 20:6, 18; Nu 15:30–31; 19:13) Bush - Heb. “Doeth with a high hand,” that is, in a bold, daring, defiant manner, giving way to deliberate acts of transgression against light, conviction, and inward remonstrance, and in despite of divine authority. Gr. “Shall do any thing with a presumptuous hand.” Chald. “Shall do any thing with an uncovered head,” that is, openly, fearlessly, without shame, for under emotions of shame men were prone to cover their heads, as Jer. 14:4, “The ploughmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.” The original phrase, in certain connections, is capable of a good sense, equivalent to boldness, courage, magnanimity, both in heart and deportment, as when it is said of Israel that they went out of Egypt with a high hand, Ex. 14:8, Num. 33:3; but here it implies knowingly, purposely, and presumptuously going counter to the express ordinance of heaven in contempt of the divine majesty and authority. NET NOTE on defiantly - The sin is described literally as acting “with a high hand”—בְּיָד רָמָה (béyad ramah). The expression means that someone would do something with deliberate defiance, with an arrogance in spite of what the LORD said. It is as if the sinner was about to attack God, or at least lifting his hand against God. The implication of the expression is that it was done in full knowledge of the Law (especially since this contrasts throughout with the sins of ignorance). Blatant defiance of the word of the LORD is dealt with differently. For similar expressions, see Exod 14:8 and Num 33:3. Wiersbe - To sin “presumptuously” means to disobey God’s law deliberately and arrogantly, knowing full well the danger involved. The Hebrew literally means “to sin with a high hand” as though the person were shaking his or her fist in the face of God, daring God to do something. Presumptuous sins are committed by people who have “no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom. 3:18). (Be Counted) Whether he is native or an alien, that one is blaspheming the LORD - NLT = ""But those who brazenly violate the Lord's will, whether native Israelites or foreigners, blaspheme the LORD, and they must be cut off from the community." Bush on that one is blaspheming the LORD - The same reproacheth the Lord. Or, Heb. “Blasphemeth.” Gr. and Chald. “Provoketh to anger.” The original denotes primarily verbal reproaching, or reviling, as in 2 Kings 19:6, 22; but is applied here to a reproaching or blaspheming by deeds, as in Ezek. 20:27, “In this your fathers have blasphemed me in that they have committed a trespass against me.” It is a truth of solemn import, that every presumptuous sinner is a virtual blasphemer of Jehovah, even though he may never orally profane his name.
Números 15
Wiersbe - Apparently he was gathering sticks to start a fire, and it was unlawful to kindle a fire on the Sabbath (Ex 35:1–3). It’s a dangerous thing for Christians to say, “I’ll go ahead and sin, because afterward, I can ask God to forgive me.” They see God’s promise in 1 John 1:9 as a “religious rabbit’s foot” to get them out of trouble after they’ve deliberately disobeyed God. Professed Christians who repeatedly and deliberately sin probably aren’t Christians at all (Rom. 6; 1 John 3:7–10; 5:1–5, 18); and true believers who adopt that careless attitude will be chastened by the Father until they submit to His will (Heb. 12:3–15). When the German poet Heine said on his deathbed, “Of course God will forgive me; that’s His job,” he understood neither the awfulness of sin or the high cost of God’s grace. (Ibid) NET Note - Gathering of wood, although seemingly harmless, is done with intent to kindle fire, and so reveals a culpable intent. Ryrie - These verses furnish an example (breaking the Sabbath) of a sin committed with a high hand and the punishment that resulted (cf. Ex. 35:2). Numbers 15:33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation; Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PUBLICLY SINNING WITH A HIGH HAND Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation - "Not perhaps literally into the presence of the whole congregation, consisting of hundreds of thousands, but before the heads and representatives of the whole body, to which the name of the congregation was often given." (Bush) Numbers 15:34 and they put him in custody because it had not been declared what should be done to him. Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SABBATH BREAKER INCARCERATED! And they put him in custody - " Heb. bammishmor, in keeping; as they had previously dealt with the blasphemer, Lev. 24:12." (Bush) FLB - The penalty for violating the Sabbath was death according to Exod 31:14–15. Their uncertainty over how to handle the violation could indicate that this portion of the law had not been fully articulated at this time. There may have been some confusion about whether the man’s actions consisted of prohibited work, or Moses may have been waiting for confirmation from Yahweh that the violation had been deliberate and demanded the death penalty. because it had not been declared what should be done to him - "Gr. “They had not judged, or determined.” They knew, indeed, that the sabbath-breaker was to die (Ex. 31:4, 35:2), but by what death he should die, or whether this gathering of sticks made him obnoxious to that sentence, they were not certain. It was clear that he had done it presumptuously, but whether the act came fairly within the compass of the law, and in what precise manner it was to be dealt with, they were not fully resolved in their own minds. As this was the first offence of the kind, and as neither Moses nor the people were disposed to act precipitately in the matter, they saw fit to await a specific direction from the Lord himself." (Bush) Numbers 15:35 Then the LORD said to Moses, "The man shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp." The man: Ex 31:14,15 stone him: Lev 24:14,23 1Ki 21:13 Ac 7:58 Heb 13:11,12 Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Acts 7:58+ When they had driven him (STEPHEN) out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. Hebrews 13:11-12+ For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.:12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. VERDICT FOR SABBATH BREAKER: DEATH BY STONING Then the LORD said to Moses - "Probably in answer to the special inquiry which Moses went into the tabernacle to make, as he did in another case of difficulty mentioned before, Nu 9:8." (Bush) "The man shall surely be put to death all the congregation shall stone him with stones - . Stones were used to keep the people from being defiled by the dead body. Bush - Stoning was the most dreadful of all the punishments inflicted upon malefactors under the Jewish dispensation; the event recorded furnishes, therefore, a striking and solemn testimony to the sacredness and divine obligation of the sabbath law, and one which should not be lost upon us at the present day. The offence was apparently light and trivial, and for which we should be apt to suppose such a punishment entirely disproportioned; but the dignity and majesty of the divine Being against whom it is committed is to be considered, and such an example teaches how enormous those acts become, which, though not sinful in their own nature, are yet forbidden by the supreme authority of the universe. Actions ventured upon in defiance or contempt of an express divine command, draw after them a fearful load of responsibility. See Note on Lev. 20:2 for a particular account of the manner in which this punishment was inflicted. outside the camp - Executions were always held outside the camp (Lev 24:14, 23) or the city (1 Ki 21:10, 13)—probably to prevent the number of people who might come into contact with a corpse and be rendered unclean. Bush - Without the camp. Hence arose the custom of taking those who were to be stoned to a distance from cities and from the judgment-hall, as is remarked by Sol. Jarchi. Thus they dealt with Stephen, casting him “out of the city,” and stoning him, Acts 7:58; likewise with Naboth, 1 Kings 21:13, and with the blasphemer, Lev. 24:14. This aggravated the punishment, from involving a degree of reproach, as is evident from the language of the apostle, Heb. 13:11–13, “For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.” The severity of the punishment in cases of the violation of the sabbath no doubt points typically to the sad lot of those who do not keep the true spiritual sabbath, “entering into the rest of God by faith, and ceasing from their own works, as God did from his,” Heb. 4:1–11. Wiersbe - In His law, God made no provision for presumptuous sin, for such sinners were despising God’s Word and defying His authority. God in His mercy could forgive such sins, as He did with David (2 Sam. 12), but He did not put Himself under obligation. The man who deliberately violated the Sabbath discovered that God is not mocked. NET NOTE - all the community is to stone him with stones. The punishment is consistent with other decrees from God (see Exod 31:14, 15; 35:2). Moses had either forgotten such, or they had simply neglected to (or were hesitant to) enact them. Numbers 15:36 So all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SABBATH BREAKER STONED TO DEATH So all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. In a stoning, the victim was stripped naked and his hands bound; then he was paraded out of town, where he was placed on a scaffold about nine feet high. The first witness pushed him off the scaffold; the second dropped a large stone on his head or chest. Then bystanders pelted the dying man with stones. No mourning was permitted for the dead man. Numbers 15:37 The LORD also spoke to Moses, saying, Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries The LORD also spoke to Moses, saying - Nu 15:37-41 relate to the laws of the tassels worn as a physical reminder of Yahweh’s commandments Numbers 15:38 "Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. NET Numbers 15:38 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them to make tassels for themselves on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and put a blue thread on the tassel of the corners. NLT Numbers 15:38 "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. ESV Numbers 15:38 "Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. NIV Numbers 15:38 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. KJV Numbers 15:38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: YLT Numbers 15:38 'Speak unto the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, and they have made for themselves fringes on the skirts of their garments, to their generations, and they have put on the fringe of the skirt a ribbon of blue, LXE Numbers 15:38 Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt tell them; and let them make for themselves fringes upon the borders of their garments throughout their generations: and ye shall put upon the fringes of the borders a lace of blue. ASV Numbers 15:38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of each border a cord of blue: CSB Numbers 15:38 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout their generations they are to make tassels for the corners of their garments, and put a blue cord on the tassel at each corner. fringes in the borders: The word {tzitzith} properly denotes an ornament resembling a flower. From ver. 39, we learn that these were emblematical of the commands of God. That there is any analogy between a fringe and a precept, it would be bold to assert; but when a thing is appointed to represent another, no matter how different, that first object becomes the legitimate representative or sign of the other. De 22:12 Mt 9:20 23:5 Lu 8:44 Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Deuteronomy 22:12 “You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of your garment with which you cover yourself. NET NOTE on tassels - Heb “twisted threads” (גְּדִלִים, gédilim) appears to be synonymous with צִיצִת (tsitsith) which, in Num 15:38, occurs in a passage instructing Israel to remember the covenant. Perhaps that is the purpose of the tassels here as well. Cf. KJV, ASV “fringes”; NAB “twisted cords.” Blue Tassel on Each Corner TASSELS ON ONE'S GARMENT Matthew
Números 15
Wiersbe explains that "The five basic Mosaic offerings were the burnt offering, meal offering, peace offering, sin offering, and trespass offering (Lev. 1–7). The first three were “sweet savor” sacrifices, designed to please the Lord, but the sin offering and the trespass offering were not “sweet savor” because they dealt with guilt and sin, and there’s nothing pleasing to God about sin. The burnt offering typified the worshiper’s complete devotion to God, for the animal was totally consumed on the altar. The meal (grain) offering spoke of the worshiper’s dedication of his labor to the Lord, and the peace (trespass) offering represented joyful fellowship and thanksgiving to God for His blessings. Of course, the offerings point to Jesus Christ (Heb 10:1–18). He gave Himself completely on the cross (burnt offering) and paid for the sins of the world (sin offering, trespass offering). He is our peace and made peace on the cross (peace offering), and He is the satisfying bread of life (meal offering)." (Be Counted) then make an offering by fire to the LORD - The word “offering” is not expressed in the original, but is understood in context. ESVSB has a helpful note on the significance of the sacrifices and offerings described in Numbers 15 - The imagery of sacrifice is drawn from that of a meal: the worshiper must act as the generous host and give to God all that he would give an important guest (Ge 18:1–8). It was not that God needed food, but these gifts showed the worshiper’s devotion (Ps 50:12–15+). The giving of these laws at this point is very telling. (1) The entry into Canaan has just been delayed 40 years, and an attempt to enter has failed (Nu 14:20–45+), so the question could be asked: would Israel ever enter the Promised Land? These laws emphatically answer YES. It is not a question of if they will enter the land, but rather WHEN they will come in. In this way the laws reaffirm the land promise. (2) Further, the continuing instructions show that God has indeed retained Israel as his people (Nu 14:36–38 ="The covenant made at Sinai—that the Lord would be their God and that Israel would be His people—was maintained. Yet the people still suffered for their sin: they did not enter Canaan, but died in the wilderness."). (3) But more than that, the laws are an assurance that their harvests in the land would be abundant, as they stipulate that large quantities must be offered with each animal. The sacrifice of a lamb must be accompanied by about half a gallon (1.9 liters) of flour, a quart (0.95 liters) of oil, and a quart (0.95 liters) of wine (Nu 15:4–5). At least double quantities are needed for a bull (Nu 15:8–10).(ED: Note that the #'s 1,2, 3 are added by me). A burnt offering - In this offering the animal was wholly consumed (see notes below). Applying this to our Christian life Paul's passage from Romans 12:1-2 provides a clear parallel "Therefore (BASED ON ROMANS 1-11) I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed (present imperative with a negative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) to this world, but be transformed (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." How can we know the will of God? By making a daily "burnt offering" to Jehovah. Is that your practice (under grace) beloved? Burnt offering (05930)('olah from 'alah = to ascend and thus the picture of going up in smoke) refers to a whole burnt offering (one which goes up in smoke), which was voluntary, was understood as a sacrificial gift to God, resulting in a pleasing aroma acceptable to Jehovah (Lev 1:9). The presenter laid hands on the sacrifice which many feel signifies they saw the animal sacrifice as their substitute. The blood was sprinkled on the altar (Lev 1:6) When this offering was properly carried out (including a right heart attitude not just a "going through the motions," [which was not pleasing to God - Jer 6:20, Jer 7:21, 23, 24, see David - Ps 51:16-17+] not just an external "work," but an internal submission and obedience to Jehovah), they made atonement and were acceptable before Jehovah. The total burning indicated (or should have indicated) total consecration of the presenter's heart and soul and life to Jehovah. As noted a key feature of 'olah appears to be that among the Israelite sacrifices only 'olah is wholly burned, rather than partially burned and eaten by the worshipers and/or the priest. Thus, the whole animal is brought up to the altar and the whole is offered as a gift (minha) in homage to Yahweh. Whole offering would be a better rendering in English to convey the theology. It is indeed burned, but the burning is essentially secondary to the giving of the whole creature to Yahweh. Burnt Offering - 'olah , "what ascends" in smoke to God, being wholly consumed to ashes. Part of every offering was burnt in the sacred fire (see Bush's distinction below), the symbol of God's presence; but this was wholly burnt, as a "whole burnt offering." (Fausset's Bible Dictionary) George Bush on burnt offering in Leviticus 1:3 - The prescribed sacrificial offerings are distinguished in Hebrew by two several terms, אשה isheh, and עלח olah, of which the first being a derivative from אש ish, fire, denotes an offering by fire, and is applied both to offerings burnt wholly, and to those burnt in part. This word is generally rendered by ‘offering by fire.’ The word עלח olah, on the other hand, literally signifying ‘ascension’ from עלח alah, to ascend, because these offerings went up in flame and smoke into the air, is applied to sacrifices wholly burnt, which the Greeks denominated δλοκαυτωματα holokautomata, or δλοκαυστον holokauston from which the word ‘holocaust’ has been transferred into our language. If rendered in English phrase, it should properly be ‘whole burnt-offering,’ whereas by its being generally rendered by our translators ‘burnt-offering,’ the genuine distinction between the original words is bidden from the ordinary reader, as there is no difference between the expression ‘burnt-offering,’ and ‘offering by fire.’ But let the phrase ‘whole burnt-offering’ be employed, and the distinction is obvious. Every holocaust or ‘olah,’ was an ‘isheh,’ or offering by fire, but every ‘isheh,’ or fire offering, was not a holocaust. It may here be remarked, that the ‘whole burnt-offering’ was the first or principal sacrifice with which God was daily served by his people, Nu. 28:3, no part of it being eaten, but the whole consumed upon the altar. It pointed to the offering of the body of Christ, as is evident from Heb. 10:10. In Deut. 33:10, it is rendered ‘whole burnt sacrifice.’ Or a sacrifice - Bush explains "Understand a sacrifice of peace-offering, as the Chald. explains it. See the law concerning these, Lev. 3. The original zebach, sacrifice, when occurring in absolute form is often put for peace-offerings, as Ex. 18:12, on which see Note. Consult also Lev. 17:5, 8, 23:37, Deut. 12:27. Such is the import here, for the meat and drink-offerings about to be specified were not added to the sin or trespass-offerings, except in the case of the cleansing of the leper." Special vow...freewill offering...appointed times (aka "annual festivals") - These are fellowship offerings. Special vow offerings celebrate the successful completion of a vow or fulfill a promise made if God answers one’s prayer (Gen. 28:20; Num. 6:14, 21; 2 Sam. 15:7–8; Prov. 7:14; Jon. 2:9). Freewill offerings express gratitude to God (Deut. 16:10; Ps. 54:6). Festival offerings are required at various feasts (Exod. 23:15; Lev. 23:8, 19, 37). To fulfill a special vow - NLT = "a sacrifice to fulfill a vow." Hebrew = “In separating a vow.” This special vow is mentioned again in Nu 15:8 below. We have encountered the idea a special vow in the making the Nazarite vow in Nu 6:2+ "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When a man or woman makes a special (pala) vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to dedicate himself to the LORD." The word "special" is the Hebrew word pala which means to be extraordinary or amazing, be surpassing or to cause a wonderful thing to happen. To do something wonderful, extraordinary or difficult. And so a relatively uncommon use of pala expresses the performance of a special vow beyond the ordinary commitment (Lev. 27:2+ = "difficult vow"; Nu. 6:2; Nu 15:3, 8). Bush - "The true idea is that of paying, performing, fulfilling a vow, but as the particular animal of the herd or flock which was vowed for a sacrifice was to be singled out and set apart from common use, therefore the term to separate ("SPECIAL"), which originally applied to the object became gradually applied to the vow itself." So here the idea is of vowing something in a signal way, in a mode striking and extraordinary (aka the sense of the Hebrew word pala). By Philo this kind of vow is termed ευχη μεγαλη, the great vow, as being an act of special and distinguished devotion. Or as a freewill offering - "That is, an offering not required by any law, but which a person might be prompted spontaneously to present as the expression of a grateful heart." (Bush) THOUGHT- This type of offering makes me think of what believers should do according to Hebrews 13:15-16+ "Through Him then, let us continually offer (ACTIVE VOICE = VOLITIONAL CHOICE - WE FREELY MAKE THIS OFFERING!) up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." You may want to sing this great old chorus "We Sing the Sacrifice of Praise" -- If you begin your day with a "freewill offering" of praise to Jehovah, I submit the rest of your day will be filled with His joy and peace, independent of the circumstances you encounter! Try it today beloved! Or in your appointed times - NLT = "a special sacrifice at any of the annual festivals." (see comments on Lev 23:4 including calendar and tables on Jewish feasts) " Of these see a full account Lev. 23, with the accompanying Notes." (Bush) The idea is applied to the solemn feasts of the Israelites, which were appointed by God, and fixed to certain seasons of the year.
Números 15
Wiersbe points out that "nothing is said here about their (ALIENS) having to be circumcised (Ex. 12:48). Even the Jewish boys weren’t given the mark of the covenant during Israel’s years of wandering because the nation had rebelled against God and broken His covenant. The males in the new generation were marked with the covenant sign when they entered the Promised Land (Josh. 5:1–8). (Ibid) BSB - Strangers or foreigners were excluded from the rite of the Passover unless they conformed to the laws of the Hebrews, including circumcision (Nu 15:14-16; Ex. 12:48, 49; Josh. 5:2-10). Related Resource: Why do Christians believe in proselytization? | GotQuestions.org Numbers 15:15 'As for the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the alien who sojourns with you, a perpetual statute throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the alien be before the LORD. One: Nu 15:29 9:14 Ex 12:49 Lev 24:22 Ga 3:28 Eph 2:11-22 Col 3:11 perpetual statute e: Nu 10:8 18:8 Ex 12:14,24,43 1Sa 30:25 Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SAME STATUTES FOR NATIVES AND ALIENS As for the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the alien who sojourns with you - “if a sojourner sojourns.” NLT = "Native Israelites and foreigners are the same before the LORD and are subject to the same laws. This is a permanent law for you." Bush - The wording of the original is peculiar, and may be rendered, “O congregation, one ordinance, or statute, shall be for you, etc.” Or, as the main word stands as a nominative absolute, it may be rendered, “As to the congregation, one ordinance shall be for you,” etc. For a fuller account of the laws pertaining to proselytes among the chosen people, see the various treatises of Jewish antiquities. The drift of this law would naturally tend to the encouragement of proselytes of other nations to come in and embrace the religion of the true God. It was hereby ordained that all such persons should have the same religious privileges, so far as the ceremonies, sacrifices, and services were concerned, as were accorded to the native-born Israelites; and this privilege they were to enjoy from age to age as long as that dispensation lasted. FLB does note "Other laws make distinctions between native Israelites and foreigners living among them. For example, the law about observing Sukkoth only mentions native Israelites having to live in booths during the festival (Lev 23:42). Alien (sojouner) (01616)(ger from gur = to live among people not one's blood relatives) is a masculine noun meaning sojourner, alien, stranger. It describes someone who did not enjoy rights usually possessed by residents. It describes a person who does not belong to the nation of Israel by ancestry. a perpetual statute throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the alien be before the LORD. Numbers 15:16 'There is to be one law and one ordinance for you and for the alien who sojourns with you.'" Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries There is to be one law and one ordinance for you and for the alien who sojourns with you - NLT - "The same instructions and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigners living among you." Numbers 15:17 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying Numbers 15:18 "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land where I bring you, Nu 15:2 De 26:1-15 Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries INSTRUCTIONS UPON ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land where I bring you - NLT = ""Give the people of Israel the following instructions: When you arrive in the land where I am taking you," Bush - When ye come into the land, etc. Heb. “In your coming, or entering in.” A new ordinance is here imposed by divine authority, viz. that the people, when they had entered the land, should offer to the Lord a cake made of the first of their dough—a law of which no mention is made by Moses in any other place than this. It is in fact a direction respecting a new perquisite to the priests. It bad before been commanded (Lev. 23:17) that at every Pentecost two loaves should be brought to them by each householder, from the first-fruits of the wheat harvest. That provision is now so extended as to give them a similar claim to a loaf made from the first gatherings of all kinds of grain, its size, as far as we know, being left to the giver’s discretion. This law, like the last, and like the similar one of older date, was first to go into effect after the establishment in Canaan. It is evidently a law of the same nature with that respecting the first harvest-fruits, namely, that as every corn-grower in the land of Canaan was required to present some part of his first ripe corn every year to God for the use of the priests, so it is now ordained, as a kind of supplement to the same law, that out of the first bread that any man made of his new corn, a part of the dough should be taken and presented to the priest in waiting, ready baked, and before he had baked any for his own use. This the priest was to present as an offering to the Lord by waving it up towards heaven, after the manner of a heave or wave-offering, and then was to have it as a portion for himself. Numbers 15:19 then it shall be, that when you eat of the food of the land, you shall lift up an offering to the LORD. Jos 5:11,12 Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries HEAVE OFFERING TO THE LORD then it shall be, that when you eat of the food of the land - NLT = "you will eat from the crops that grow there.." Bush - "That is, of the bread-corn, the produce of the land, as in Is. 28:28, “Bread is bruised,” i. e. bread-corn, as rendered in the common version. So also Ps. 104:14, “That he may bring forth food out of the earth.” Heb. “Bread.”" you shall lift up an offering to the LORD - NLT = "But you must set some aside as a gift to the LORD." Bush "Heb. “Ye shall heave an heave (offering) unto the Lord.” Greek and Chaldee. “Shall separate;” it being separated by the owner, and offered to the Lord, and thus made to form one of the “heave-offerings” which the Lord gave to his priests. It was therefore holy. The Jewish writers allude thus to this enactment: “Whosoever separated a cake he first blessed God who sanctified them by his commandments, and commanded them to separate a cake.”—Maimonides. “An heathen that separated a cake, though in the land of Israel, it was no cake.”—Idem." NET NOTE on lift up an offering - This is the תְּרוּמָה (térumah), the “raised offering” or “heave offering” (cf. KJV, ASV). It may simply be called a “contribution” (so NAB). The verb of the sentence is from the same root: “you shall lift up/raise up.” It was to be an offering separated from the rest and raised up to the LORD in the sight of all. It was designed to remind the Israelites that the produce and the land belonged to God. Heave Offering - The "heave offering" (terumah, Heb.), perhaps "lifted up" or just presented to the Lord, could consist of the thigh of the right hind leg, unleavened cakes (Lev 7:13, 14; Num. 15:19-21), the tithe (Num. 18:24), sanctuary building materials (Ex. 25:2, 3), land (translated "district" in Ezek. 45:1; 48:8), etc. Whereas the "wave offering" was always performed in the sanctuary, the "heave offering" could be presented to the Lord anywhere. Ryrie - The offering (lit., heave offering) symbolically set aside the animal (see Lev. 7:32) or grain (as here) as a contribution to the Lord of the first of the harvest after entering Canaan. Apparently it was for the priest to eat. Bush on to the LORD - Chaldee version. “Before the Lord.” That is, in his presence, under his auspices, they were first heaved or lifted up to the Lord, the creator of heaven and earth, in token of his supremacy, and in acknowledgment of his goodness, and then made over to the priests without being laid upon the altar, like the other sacrifices. Indeed, it was not necessary that this offering should be made, in after times, at the Temple at Jerusalem, but wherever the offerer resided; and as the priestly class was dispersed all over the land, there was no difficulty in finding those to whom it was to be dispensed. Comp. Ezek. 44:30, “Ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough.” Comp. also Neh. 10:37. This explains v. 21, below. Question: What is a heave offering? Answer: A heave offering was a way of presenting one’s offering to God, and it appears in the Old Testament along with burnt offerings, grain offerings, freewill offerings, and the offering of the firstborn of the flocks. The heave offering is part of the Mosaic Law and was one of the common sacrifices or offerings given to God by the Israelites. Only a few translations, such as the KJV and the NAS, call it the “heave offering”; most translations consider it simply an offering presented before the Lord. The “heave” of the “heave offering” is a simple upward movement. It could refer to the generic movement of lifting or “heaving” the sacrifice toward the altar, or it could refer to lifting up or separating a portion of the sacrifice from the rest. This “heaved” portion was set apart for use by the priests (Leviticus 7:34). The heave offering was not really a separate offering but the portion of another offering that was reserved for the use of the priests. “You shall consecrate the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering which was waved and which was offered from the ram of ordination, from the one which was for Aaron and from the one which was for his sons. It shall be for Aaron and his sons as their portion forever from the sons of Israel, for it is a heave offering; and it shall be a heave offering from the sons of Israel from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, even their heave offering to the LORD” (Exodus 29:27–28). The heave offering was often used in conjunction with a wave offering, and both were then given to the priests. The heave and the wave refer to the movement of the sacrificed item over the altar. With a wave offering, the priest moved the offering from side to side over the altar, and, with a heave offering, the sacrificed item is presented with an up-and-down motion. The Hebrew word terumah, which is the word for “heave offering,” comes from the verb stem rum, which means “exalted” or “lifted up.” In most biblical instances, the heave offering was the part of a sacrifice set aside or “lifted up” for a higher purpose. The heave offering was often given in conjunction with tithes (Leviticus 7:14, 34) as a provision for the Levites, the priestly tribe who did not have land of their own and therefore could not grow their own food. They depended on the Lord’s provision through tithes and heave offerings (Numbers 18:24, 29). The heave offering is also similar to the tithe in that it was to be given of a person’s firstfruits, that is, out of the first portion of the produce harvested each year (Numbers 15:21) The Levites themselves also offered a heave offering to the Lord out of the tithes of the Israelites. A tenth of all they were given by the other tribes was offered up to God (Numbers 18:26).GotQuestions.org Numbers 15:20 'Of the first of your dough you shall lift up a cake as an offering; as the offering of the threshing floor, so you shall lift it up. first of your dough Nu 18:12 Ex 23:19 De 26:2-10 Ne 10:37 Pr 3:9,10 Eze 44:30 Mt 6:33 Ro 11:16 1Co 15:20 Jas 1:18 Rev 14:4 offering: Lev 2:14 Lev 23:20,16,17 Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries OFFERINGS OF THE FIRST DOUGH Of the first of your dough you shall lift up a cake as an offering; - NLT - "Present a cake from the first of the flour you grind and set it aside as a gift, as you do with the first grain from the threshing floor." Bush - "This is on the general principle involved in the precept, Prov. 3:9, “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;” the effect of which would be to sanctify all the rest; “For if the first-fruit be holy, the lump (dough) is also holy,” Ro 11:6. See this subject still further considered in the Notes on Lev. 23:16, 17. As a reward for thus consecrating the first of every thing to the Lord it is said, Prov. 3:10, “So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” The custom of the Israelites was to bestow of their corn, first-fruits, tithes, and other gifts to the priests, Levites, and poor, upon their first reaping and threshing the harvest. See Ex. 13:19, Lev. 13:22, Num. 18:12, 26. Afterwards when they made their bread they separated this cake; and as the Levites separated a heave-offering out of their tithe, Num. 18:26, so the poor that gleaned the fields separated of their dough for a like purpose." As the offering of the threshing floor, so you shall lift it up - The priests received the first of the produce. Bush adds "That is, of the corn in the threshing-floor. So Deut. 16:13, “Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine.” Heb. “After thou hast gathered in thy floor and thy vineyard”. As it was their duty religiously to separate the first-fruits of their corn on the threshing-floor, so also of the dough in their houses." First (first-fruits) (07225)(reshith) means first, in place, time, order or rank; beginning, chief, firstfruit, principal thing; first phase, step, or element in course of events. It can mean the choice, highest quality, the best Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce --Proverbs 3:9 the OT version of Mt 6:33+. Numbers 15:21 'From the first of your dough you shall give to the LORD an offering throughout your generations. Nu 18:26 Ex 29:28 Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE DOUGH OFFERING 'From the first of your dough you shall give to the LORD an offering throughout your generations. - This was not described in the offerings in Leviticus. NLT = "Throughout the generations to come, you are to present this offering to the LORD each year from the first of your ground flour." ESVSB - The book of Leviticus (Lev 19:24–25; 23:10–11) insists that the firstfruits of the crops must be given to God. This principle is now extended to baking. The first dough is given to the priests. Observant Jews today still remember this rule when they bake, by throwing a small lump of dough into the fire. Bush - As this was a new law not given before, so it is repeated several times to give it more emphasis and importance in the eyes of the people; and that its sanctity was highly appreciated is evident from the fact that it was observed by the Israelites after their return from Babylon, Nehemiah 10:37, “We will also bring the first of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the new wine and the oil to the priests at the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are they who receive the tithes in all the rural towns.“ This seems to have been done in every private family; and the Jews consider a woman as infamous who neglects to do it. At this day the Jews are so observant of this rite, that when they have dough enough to make a cake, they do it as soon as they have water enough to do it. According to the construction and practice of the modern Jews, this cake was given to the priests, though some (TODAY) throw it into the fire. It is understood by them to mean that the first portion of every lump of dough exceeding the bulk of forty eggs was to be given to the priests or Levites in order to sanctify the rest.”—Priestley. That somewhat of a mystical import was couched in the ordinance is obvious from Paul’s allusion, Ro 11:16, where he applies the first-fruits and the lump of dough to Israel (If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. ), and it is confirmed by the language of the prophet, Jer. 2:2-3, “Thus saith the Lord; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the first-fruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend.” The phrase, “All that devour (Heb. eat) him,” seems to refer to the rule that no one was to eat of the first-fruit of the harvest but the priest. This mystical sense is also recognized by the Jewish commentators: “The commandment of the cake signified in mystery the congregation of Israel, called the first-fruits of the world; which when it is put into the oven that burneth with the fire of the holy blessed God, it is necessary to separate therefrom a cake, that it be not partaker of severe judgment; and therefore is a blessing reserved in the world.”—Rabbi Menahem. But we are taught to go beyond the Jewish nation to find the reality of the emblematic cake: “In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. ” Jas. 1:18+. Related Resources: American Tract Society Firstfruits Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Firstfruits Baker Evangelical Dictionary Firstfruits Fausset Bible Dictionary Firstfruits Holman Bible Dictionary Firstfruits Numbers 15:22 'But when you unwittingly fail and do not observe all these commandments, which the LORD has spoken to Moses, BGT Numbers 15:22 ὅταν δὲ διαμάρτητε καὶ μὴ ποιήσητε πάσας τὰς ἐντολὰς ταύτας ἃς ἐλάλησεν κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν NET Numbers 15:22 "'If you sin unintentionally and do not observe all these commandments that the LORD has spoken to Moses– NLT Numbers 15:22 "But suppose you unintentionally fail to carry out all these commands that the LORD has given you through Moses. ESV Numbers 15:22 "But if you sin unintentionally, and do not observe all these commandments that the LORD has spoken to Moses, NIV Numbers 15:22 " 'Now if you unintentionally fail to keep any of these commands the LORD gave Moses-- KJV Numbers 15:22 And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses, YLT Numbers 15:22 'And when ye err, and do not all these commands which Jehovah hath spoken unto Moses, LXE Numbers 15:22 But whensoever ye shall transgress, and not perform all these commands, which the Lord spoke to Moses; ASV Numbers 15:22 And when ye shall err, and not observe all these commandments, which Jehovah hath spoken unto Moses, CSB Numbers 15:22 "When you sin unintentionally and do not obey all these commands that the LORD spoke to Moses-- NKJ Numbers 15:22 `If you sin unintentionally, and do not observe all these commandments which the LORD has spoken to Moses-- NRS Numbers 15:22 But if you unintentionally fail to observe all these commandments that the LORD has spoken to Moses-- Lev 4:2,13,14,22,27 5:13,15-17 Ps 19:12 Lu 12:48 Related Passages: Leviticus 4:1+ Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them, 3if the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer to the LORD a bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed. SINS OF IGNORANCE OF OMISSION NOT COMMISSION Note that Numbers 15:22–26 describe the rules for a sin of omission by the congregation (see also Lev. 4:13–21+). Numbers 15:22-31 deal with offerings required for purification of sins and parallel the descriptions in Leviticus 4-5. These regulations supplement what was already stated in the book of Leviticus for the purification and reparation offerings. See those instructions in Lev 4–7+ for details. (cf. Lev. 4:13–21). Wiersbe points out that "The sacrifices described in Leviticus 1–7 took care of sins of commission, but the instructions here have to do with unintentional sins of omission, things that the people should have done but didn’t do... Even though the people who sinned didn’t realize their failure, what they didn’t do was still a sin and had to be dealt with. “I didn’t know” will not avail at the throne of God." This makes me think that we should frequently pray David's prayer for our sins are so deceitful we don't always know when we commit them! What is the prayer? Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. (Spurgeon's comments) 'But - Term of contrast. Change of direction now to offerings for sin. Nu 15:22-26 deal with offerings for the entire congregation who inadvertently sins and Nu 15:27-29 with the offerings for the individual person who sinned unintentionally. When you unwittingly fail - Imperfect tense (over and over). Note "when" note "if" -- we will fail! And we will continue to do so until we are glorified and sinless like the Son (1 Jn 3:2+). Sins that are not premeditated, sins done when the person did not know the action was sinful. Unwitting means not knowing; unaware, not intended; unintentional; not conscious; inadvertent; accidental; unaware; not done with purpose or intent; unplanned; unknowing. Unwittingly (wander, go astray, err, commit error, intoxicated)(07686)(shagah) literally means to go astray (Pr 5:23, Ezek 34:6), then to make an error (1 Sa 26:21). To err, to deceive, to make a mistake. To sin inadvertently, perpetrated in ignorance, not willfully (Lev 4:13, Ezek 45:20). In some context it can mean to stagger or reel, to not be able to go forward (wine - Pr 20:1, visions Isa 28:7, love Pr 5:19, strange woman -Pr 5:20). Does not sin in effect make us all "stagger" spiritually and not be able to advance on the highway of holiness? Of course it does. Shagah is used frequently to describe a wandering or aimless flock, both figuratively and literally (Ezek. 34:6). The Lxx translates shagah in Nu 15:22 with the rare verb diamartano (used only in Nu 15:22) which means to miss entirely, to go quite astray, to fail utterly, to be completely unsuccessful or seriously in error, miss the mark badly, be quite wrong, THOUGHT - Unwitting sins makes me think of David's prayer in Psalm 19 in which he says "Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults." (Ps 19:12). In Jesus' Name and because of His fully atoning blood. Amen. George Bush on unwittingly fail - "That is, done unadvisedly through ignorance, error, or oversight, to which is opposed the “doing presumptuously,” or “sinning with a high hand,” mentioned Nu 15:30. A law had been previously given respecting sins of ignorance, Lev. 4:1ff+, and it is an obvious question, in what respects that law differed from the present. We may observe in reply, (1.) that the law in Leviticus seems rather to contemplate sins of commission, and this sins of omission. (2.) The present law appears to have reference to such sins of ignorance as might be committed by the whole congregation, while the other is applicable to the sins of individuals. This view seems to be confirmed by the fact, that in the verse before us. the collective “you” is employed, while in the subsequent verse, Nu 15:27, where the case of an individual is recognized, the term used is “one person,” as it is also in Lev. 4:2. The ceremonial observances enjoined upon the nation were so numerous, complicated, and various, that it might easily be supposed some of them would by degrees be forgotten and disused; consequently if, in process of time, upon consulting the law, there should appear to have been a general neglect of any of the divine appointments, a sacrifice must be offered for the whole congregation. We may suggest, moreover, that the law contemplated perhaps the extension of the meaning of “sins of ignorance” on the part of the congregation, making them cover the case of the commission of any offence within its borders, when the criminal had escaped detection. When such an offence occurred, one which might be considered to involve the responsibility of the nation at large, its sense of the fault was to be manifested in a manner somewhat different from what had been before prescribed, and one more costly and imposing. Instead of a bullock only for a sin-offering, which had been previously ordained, a sin-offering of a kid is now to be substituted, accompanied with the holocaust (burnt offering) of a bullock, with the addition of its appropriate meal and drink offerings, as these had been lately prescribed. This was a striking feature of the present enactment, that it tended to make the whole community feel itself charged with the responsibility of the conduct of each of its members. It became liable to a certain form of penalty for the transgression, by certain individuals, of the divinely appointed statutes and ordinances with which they were bound sedulously to comply." (Bush) and do not observe all these commandments which the LORD has spoken to Moses - God now gives guidelines when the people sin, either unintentionally (Nu 15:22-29) or defiantly (Nu 15:30-31) Bush on do not observe... - Heb. “Have not done all these commandments.” As intimated above, the words of this law differ from those in Lev. 4:2, 23, they having reference to things which should not be done, and these to things which should be done; or in other words, the one pointing to sins of commission, and the other to sins of omission. The implication is very clear, that when commanded duties are neglected through ignorance or inadvertence, the delinquent is not entirely guiltless on that account. His culpability is not so great as that of the knowing or wilful transgressor, but he still needs the application of the virtue of the great sacrifice represented by the bullock and the kid.
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Wiersbe - The tassels were small things, yet they carried a big message: Israel belonged to God and must respect and obey His commandments. It is not wrong to have reminders that point us to God, provided they don’t replace God or His Word. We are to “seek those things which are above” (Col. 3:1). (WWBC) So as to do them - First the positive. So not just remember them but do them. James 1:22+ has a similar thought "prove (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.." And not follow after your own heart and your own eyes - Your own heart and eyes would in essence describe our fallen flesh which wants to follow after that which pleases the flesh, not that which pleases Yahweh. We fail to guard our eyes and evil comes into our heart and corrupts it and then comes out lusts and evil acts. THOUGHT - Looking at the tassel should serve to impede following after their own eyes. Today we do not have a blue tassel to look at but a Beautiful Savior to look at, so may we continually fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2+) and not on the passing pleasures of sin (Heb 11:25+). John Currid has an interesting note on follow - There is a subtle reference in verse 39 to the account of the spies in Numbers 13–14. The text says that the Israelites should not ‘follow’ after their own hearts and eyes. This verb is the main one used in the episode of the spies, and it means ‘to scout’, ‘spy out’, or ‘explore’ (Nu 13:2, 16, 17). The scouts’ ‘spying out’ (Nu 14:34) led to their ‘playing the harlot’ (Nu 14:33). The tassels and cords are to remind Israel not to act like the scouts—that is, according to their own inclinations. Israel would then have to bear the same consequences. (EPSC-Nu) Follow (08446)(tur) means to to seek out, spy out, explore, to go into a land and search it out (Nu 10:33; 13:2, 16, 17, 21, 25, 32; 14:6, 7, 34, 36, 38). Baker adds that tur "depicts persons following their own hearts or desires, seeking them out to pursue them rather than the Lord's will (Num. 15:39). It refers to merchants, those who seek out wares (1 Ki. 10:15; 2 Chr. 9:14). It is used of the instincts and inclinations of an animal to search out its habitat (Job 39:8). It refers to a person serving as a guide who explores the way for others (Prov. 12:26). It is used figuratively of exploring and investigating wisdom and its ways (Eccl. 1:13; 2:3; 7:25). It refers to the Lord's previous exploration (nasb selection) of the land of Canaan before giving it to His people (Ezek. 20:6). (CWD-OT) Tur - 24x in 23v - explore(1), explored(1), explores(1), follow(1), guide(1), investigate(1), seek(2), selected(1), spied(5), spy(6), spying(2), traders*(2). Num. 10:33; Num. 13:2; Num. 13:16; Num. 13:17; Num. 13:21; Num. 13:25; Num. 13:32; Num. 14:6; Num. 14:7; Num. 14:34; Num. 14:36; Num. 14:38; Num. 15:39; Deut. 1:33; Jdg. 1:23; 1 Ki. 10:15; 2 Chr. 9:14; Job 39:8; Prov. 12:26; Eccl. 1:13; Eccl. 2:3; Eccl. 7:25; Ezek. 20:6 Bush - That ye seek not after your own heart, etc. Heb. tâthoru, from the root toor, which we have explained in the Note on Nu 14:36, where it is employed in reference to the searching or exploring the land of Canaan by the spies, and implies, as we have shown, a turning or circling about in opposition to pursuing a direct and straight-forward course. Greek “Ye shall not turn back after your imaginations, and after (the sight of) your eyes in the things after which ye go a whoring.” Chaldee “Ye shall not err, or wander, after the cogitation of your heart.” The Chaldee term here used does not signify, says Fagius, mere cogitation, but that kind of thought which proceeds from an impious curiosity, when we do not simply believe in and cleave to the word of God, but indulge in a spirit of vain speculation and disputation, against the nature of true faith. The “seeking after their own heart and their own eyes” implies therefore a giving way to their own imaginations and inventions in the matter of worship and general obedience, and lapsing into idolatry, which is spiritual fornication and adultery. After which you played the harlot - It literally says, “which you go whoring after them.” Here played the harlot is indicates this is something Israel did. In fact in the Lxx the verb used to translate played the harlot (zanah - below) is ekporneuo which literally means to indulge in flagrant immorality, be given to fornication,misbehave sexually as in Jude 1:7+. BDAG says ekporneuo means to "indulge in illicit sexual relations/debauchery." Play the harlot (02181)(zanah) is a verb meaning to fornicate, to prostitute and refers to marital infidelity or unfaithfulness. It was word used elsewhere in the OT to describe prostitution (Lev 21:7, Pr 7:10). Many of the uses of zanah are figurative describing Israel 's (Jehovah's "wife") commission of "spiritual prostitution" by having "intercourse" so to speak with other gods (cp 1 Co 6:16). Indeed, idolatry is looked upon as prostitution (Isa 50:1, 2, 3; 54:6, 7, 8; Jer 2:1, 2, 3; 3:1ff; Hos 2:1ff; Jas 4:4+; Rev 2:4+). In addition zanah describes Israel’s improper relationships with other nations (Isa. 23:17; Ezek. 23:30; Nah. 3:4). "The thought seems to be of having relations with these nations for the sake of political and monetary benefit, although in the case of Nineveh the added element of alluring, deceitful tactics leading on to oppressive dominance is implied." (TWOT) "A third figurative meaning is found in Isa 1:21, where the Israelites’ departure from God’s approved moral standards is called harlotry." (TWOT) NET NOTE - The verb for “whoring” may be interpreted to mean “act unfaithfully.” So, the idea is these influences lead to unfaithful activity: “after which you act unfaithfully.” The blue tassel recalls the story of the woman who touched Jesus' garment in Mark 5:30+ and was healed. Did she touch a blue tassel? We cannot be absolutely sure but certainly that is possible. Zodhiates has an interesting thought regarding the NT parallel to a blue tassel - The Israelites were commanded to put a “ribbon” of blue or sky–color on the fringes (Num. 15:38), representative of the blue appearance at the extremity of the sky. Wearing such “ribbons” of blue on the borders of their garments was meant to remind them of all the commandments of the Lord. For Christians, the figure in the NT is the putting on of Christ, the divine light (Rom. 13:14; Gal. 3:27). Having this in mind, they should walk as children of light, putting on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24). This figure was to have reminded believers that they should walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16, 26), being adorned with the accompanying graces (Gal. 5:22, 23 [cf. Num. 15:39, 40]). (Word Study NT Dictionary) THOUGHT - On How to Maintain a Walk of Holiness... SEE > REMEMBER > DO – Timeless principle to guard and guide a walk of holiness. See Jesus’ Sacrifice (Begin day in Word) > Remember the Cost of redemption (cf 1 Cor 6:19-20+) > Do in power of His Spirit Note: Expulsive power of a new affection (SEE>REMEMBER>DO) effectively annuls the power of the flesh (see Gal 5:16-17+). But it needs to be a continual practice! Numbers 15:40 so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God. BGT Numbers 15:40 ὅπως ἂν μνησθῆτε καὶ ποιήσητε πάσας τὰς ἐντολάς μου καὶ ἔσεσθε ἅγιοι τῷ θεῷ ὑμῶν NET Numbers 15:40 Thus you will remember and obey all my commandments and be holy to your God. NLT Numbers 15:40 The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God. ESV Numbers 15:40 So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. NIV Numbers 15:40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. KJV Numbers 15:40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. YLT Numbers 15:40 so that ye remember and have done all My commands, and ye have been holy to your God; LXE Numbers 15:40 that ye may remember and perform all my commands, and ye shall be holy unto your God. ASV Numbers 15:40 that ye may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. CSB Numbers 15:40 This way you will remember and obey all My commands and be holy to your God. NKJ Numbers 15:40 "and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God. NRS Numbers 15:40 So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and you shall be holy to your God. NAB Numbers 15:40 Thus you will remember to keep all my commandments and be holy to your God. NJB Numbers 15:40 'This will remind you of all my orders; put them into practice, and you will be consecrated to your God. be holy: Lev 11:44,45 19:2 Ro 12:1 Eph 1:4 Col 1:2 1Th 4:7 1Pe 1:15,16 Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Matthew 23:5 “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. Comment - As a sign of supposed advanced holiness, the Jews of Jesus' day would lengthen their tassels, which was sheer hypocrisy for inside they were full of dead men's bones (defiled)! They wanted others to see their piety and supposed obedience to the Law. PURPOSE OF THE BLUE REMINDERS So that - Term of purpose. The purpose of the blue tassels is explained. you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God - Notice that two verbs from verse 39 are repeated "remember" and "do". Can you see how one could misinterpret this passage? One might read the doing of the all the commandments as resulting in one being holy. This may be related to modern orthodox Jews on whose prayer shawls there is a Hebrew inscription around the neck of the Tallit (Prayer Shawl) that reads... “Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Who makes us holy with commandments, and has commanded us to wrap ourselves in the tzitzit.” "The end of remembering is doing; and we have reason to be thankful for any appointed means or appliances which shall assist us in impressing our minds more deeply with our religious obligations, and keep us in the way of the actual performance of every duty. The Israelites were not to regard the wearing of these fringes as having in it any real intrinsic sanctity, but only as an instrumental and sensible help to the dullness and sluggishness of their minds in relation to the deportment which they were required, as a holy people, to observe." (Bush) Heavenly Father, help us now At Thy feet to humbly bow; Take away all thought of sin, Make us clean and pure within. --Bartels Especially in the context of the next passage, one is reminded of the great charge in Leviticus... Leviticus 11:44+ ‘For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. Wiersbe - When they dressed each morning, the Jews would see the tassels and be reminded that they were God’s people, obligated to obey His will. Perhaps the blue threads would remind them that their God was in heaven, seeing everything they did. As they walked about during the day, they would notice the tassels and remember God’s commandments, and likewise when they prepared for sleep at night. No matter how many idols they might see during the day, the tassels reminded them that it was Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had delivered them from Egypt; and they were to worship and serve Him alone. LASB - The tassels were to remind people not to seek after their own lustful desires, but to seek the Lord. Idol worship is self-centered, focusing on what a person can get from serving an idol. Good luck, prosperity, long life, and success in battle were expected from the gods. So were power and prestige. The worship of God is the opposite. Believers are to be selfless rather than self-centered. Instead of expecting God to serve us, we are to serve him, expecting nothing in return. We serve God for who he is, not for what we get from him. Numbers 15:41 "I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the LORD your God. NET Numbers 15:41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God." NLT Numbers 15:41 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!" ESV Numbers 15:41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God." NIV Numbers 15:41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.' " KJV Numbers 15:41 I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God. YLT Numbers 15:41 I am Jehovah your God, who hath brought you out from the land of Egypt to become your God; I, Jehovah, am your God.' LXE Numbers 15:41 I am the Lord your God that brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God. ASV Numbers 15:41 I am Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am Jehovah your God. CSB Numbers 15:41 I am Yahweh your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God; I am Yahweh your God." NKJ Numbers 15:41 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God." NRS Numbers 15:41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God. Lev 22:33 25:38 Ps 105:45 Jer 31:31-33 32:37-41 Eze 36:25-27 Heb 11:16 1Pe 2:9,10 Numbers 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Leviticus 20:7+ ‘You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. I AM YAHWEH YOUR GOD I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God - Note that God says he is (1) their God, (2) their Deliverer and (3) their Possession! These truths in context would/should serve to motivate them to "do all My commandments and be holy to your God." This repeated description I am the LORD your God is frequently associated with a call to live a separated or holy life. I am the LORD your God - 40x in 39v in the OT - Ex 6:7; Ex 16:12; Ex 20:2; Lev. 11:44; Lev. 18:2; Lev. 18:4; Lev. 18:30; Lev. 19:3; Lev. 19:4; Lev. 19:10; Lev. 19:25; Lev. 19:31; Lev. 19:34; Lev. 19:36; Lev. 20:7; Lev. 20:24; Lev. 23:22; Lev. 23:43; Lev. 24:22; Lev. 25:17; Lev. 25:38; Lev. 25:55; Lev. 26:1; Lev. 26:13; Num. 10:10; Num. 15:41; Deut. 5:6; Deut. 29:6; Jdg. 6:10; Isa. 41:13; Isa. 43:3; Isa. 48:17; Isa. 51:15; Ezek. 20:5; Ezek. 20:7; Ezek. 20:19; Ezek. 20:20; Joel 2:27; Joel 3:17 THOUGHT - As blood bought, heaven bound believers we need to continually remember (our "blue cord") that He is the LORD our God, that He lives within our bodies and that He is returning soon to take us home. Paul writes "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." (1 Cor 6:19-20+). This is similar to the declaration made to Moses in his first encounter with the Lord in the desert (Ex 3:13–22+). Now Yahweh makes this affirmation to the entire nation. This would be a fitting end to this chapter filled with assorted instructions on offerings and sacrifices, for all these demands were firmly grounded in the fact that He had brought them out from the land of Egypt to be their God. He was their Redeemer and worthy to be worshipped by offerings and sacrifices. Warren Wiersbe nails it - Thirty-eight years later, Moses will rehearse the law to the new generation in what we call the Book of Deuteronomy; he’ll emphasize the fact that obedience brings life and blessing to the nation but disobedience brings death and cursing. Joshua will repeat this message after the nation enters Canaan and begins its conquest (Joshua 8:30–35). These same principles apply to God’s people today. I am the LORD your God - This is an amazing affirmation, filled with amazing grace and infinite mercy, for Israel had grumbled (again) to the point that He had even considered exterminating the entire nation. But here He reminds them, that in spite of their horrible sin of grumbling, He was still their God. THOUGHT - Did we more firmly believe, and more frequently and seriously consider, that God is the Lord, and our God and Redeemer, we should see ourselves bound in duty, interest, and gratitude, to keep all his commandments. (Matthew Henry) John Currid - There is an old adage that says, ‘Apparel oft proclaims the man.’ There is no denying the fact that what one wears often gives the impression of what is important to a person. This is especially seen in this day when sports enthusiasts wear the jerseys or colours of the teams they support. Students often display what university they belong to by their T-shirts or hats. Urban gangs proclaim their loyalty to the group by the clothing that they wear. The Hebrews are to announce proudly by their clothing that they are people of the Word of God! And since they wear these garments all the time when they are out in public—in worship, in travel, and in every other endeavour of life—they are continually and repeatedly proclaiming the very basis of their life and existence for all the world to see. The Westminster Confession of Faith tells us that the Word of God is ‘to be the rule of faith and life’ for the Christian. Now we do not announce that by wearing tassels and blue cords on our garments. But do you publicize it by the way you live? Do you proclaim it by the way you treat others? Do you announce it with a life of holiness? How do you show the world that the Bible is the basis of all that you do and all that you are? (EPSC-Nu) THE LEVITICAL OFFERINGS SUMMARIZED BURNT OFFERING GRAIN OFFERING PEACE OFFERING SIN OFFERING TRESPASS OFFERING Description 1) Sweet aroma 2) Voluntary Heb = 'olah 1) Sweet aroma 2) Voluntary Heb = minchah 1) Sweet aroma 2) Voluntary Heb = selemim 1) Non-sweet aroma 2) Compulsory Heb = chattath Aka-Purification Offering Atoning sacrifice of animals with no physical defects. The required offering varied with the situation and station of the person receiving its benefits 1) Non-sweet aroma 2) Compulsory Heb = asam Aka - Reparation or Guilt Offering Atoning sacrifice of a ram or lamb with no physical defects Scripture Lv 1:3-17-note Lv 6:8-13-note Lv 2:1-16-note Lv 6:14-18-note Lv 7:12-13-note Lv 3:1-17-note Lv 7:11-21-note, Lv 7:28-34-note Lv 4:1-5:13-note Lv 6:24-30-note Lv 5:14-6:7-note Lv 7:1-7-note Purpose Summarized IN COMMUNION WITH GOD FOR COMMUNION WITH GOD Purpose Detailed 1) To propitiate for sin in general -Lv 1:4-note 2) To signify complete dedication & consecration to God hence called the whole burnt offering. Acceptance before God for worship & service Maintenance of fellowship with God Recognition of the sovereignty of God This offering accompanied all burnt offerings. Signified homage & thanksgiving to God. Recognition of God's bountiful provision Expression of dedication, praise & thanksgiving to God Acknowledging God as the source of provision and prosperity. Celebration of peace & of God's covenant faithfulness... Generally expressed peace & fellowship between the offerer & God & thus culminated in a community meal. 1) Thank offering: express thanks for unexpected blessing or deliverance 2) Votive Offering: to express gratitude for a blessing or deliverance granted when a vow had accompanied the petition. 3) Freewill Offering: to express gratitude to God without regard to any specific blessing or deliverance. To atone for sins committed unknowingly, especially where no restitution was possible. Note Nu 15:30, 31: The sin offering was of no avail in cases of defiant rebellion against God. Confession to God for impurities and offenses Recognition of the effects of one's sins on others in the covenant community Restoration of fellowship with God To atone for sins committed in ignorance, esp where restitution was possible Confession to men for impurities and deceptions Willingness of the repentant believer to make proper restitution Consists of According to wealth: 1) Bull without blemish-Lv 1:3–9-note 2) Male sheep or goat without blemish-Lv 1:10–13-note); 3 Turtledoves or young pigeons-Lv 1:14–17-note 3) Turtledoves or young pigeons-Lv 1:14–17-note Three Types: 1) Fine flour mixed with oil and frankincense-Lv 2:1–3-note 2) Cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil and and baked an oven Lv 2:4-note, in a pan Lv 2:5-note or in a covered pan Lv 2:7-note 3) Green heads of roasted grain mixed with oil and frankincense-Lv 2:14, 15-note According to wealth: 1) From the herd, a male or female without blemish-Lv 3:1–5-note 2) From the flock, a male or female without blemish-Lv 3:6–11-note 3) From the goats-Lv 3:12–17-note Note: Minor imperfections were permitted when the peace offering was a freewill offering of a bull or a lamb-Lv 22:23 1) For the high priest, a bull without blemish-Lv 4:3–12-note 2) For the congregation, a bull without blemish-Lv 4:13–21-note 3) For a ruler, a male goat without blemish-Lv 4:22–26-note 4) For a commoner, a female goat or lamb without blemish-Lv 4:27–35-note 5) In cases of poverty, two turtledoves or two young pigeons (one for a sin offering, the other for a burnt offering) could be substituted-Lv 5:7–10-note 6) In cases of extreme poverty, fine flour could be substituted-Lv 5:11–13-note; cp Heb. 9:22-note 1) If the offense was against the Lord (tithes, offerings, etc), a ram w/o blemish was offered; restitution was reckoned according to the priest's estimate of the value of the trespass + 20% (Lv 5:15-16-note) 2) If the offense were against man, a ram w/o blemish was offered, restitution reckoned according to the priest's estimate + 20% (Lv 6:4-6-note) God's Portion Entirety burned on the altar of burnt offering-Lv 1:9-note except the skin-Lv 7:8-note Memorial portion burned on the altar of burnt offering-Lv 2:2, 9, 16-note Fatty portions burned on the altar of burnt offering-Lv 3:3–5-note 1) Fatty portions to be burned on the altar of burnt offering Lv 4:8–10-note, Lv 4:19. 26-note, Lev 4:31, 35-note 2) When the sin offering was for the high priest or congregation, the remainder of the bull was to be burned outside the camp-Lv 4:11, 12-note, Lev 4:20, 21-note Fat burned on altar of burnt offering-Lev 7:3-5-note Priests Portion Skin only-Lv 7:8-note Remainder eaten in court of tabernacle-Lv 2:3, 10-note, Lev 6:16-18-note, Lv 7:14-15-note Breast (wave offering) & right thigh (heave offering)-Lv 7:30-34-note Remainder eaten in holy place-Lv 7:6-7-note Offerer's Portion None None Remainder to be eaten in the court by the offerer & family 1) Thank offering = eaten same day-Lv 7:15-note None None The Christian Consecration Service Fellowship Redemption for the sinner that he is Redemption for the sinner he commits Christ He presented Himself to the Father to do His will He served His Father and men as Son of Man He is the common bond of fellowship between God & man He atoned for the guilt of sin He atoned for the damage of sin. Prophetic Significance Signifies complete dedication of life to God 1) On part of Christ-Mt 26:39-44, Mk 14:36, Lk 22:42, Php 2:5-11-note 2) On part of believer-Ro 12:1-2-note, Heb 13:15-note Signifies perfect humanity of Christ: 1) Absence of leaven ~ sinlessness of Christ-He 4:15-note, 1Jn 3:5 2) The presence of oil is emblematic of the Holy Spirit-Lk 4:18; 1Jn 2:20-note, 1Jn 2:27-note Shadow of the peace believer has through Christ-Ro 5:1-2-note, 1Cor 10:16-18, 11:17-34, Col 1:20-note NB: Only offering in which offerer shared Thank Offering: 1Th 5:18-note Heb 13:15-note Prefigures fact that Christ's death... 1) Was made sin for us - 2Cor 5:20-21-note 2) He suffered outside the gate - Heb 13:11-13-note Cp Lv 4:3-note, 1Ti 5:20 Cp Lv 4:27-note, 1Cor 8:9-13 Cp Lv 5:5-note, 1Jn 1:9-note See Heb 9:22-note Shadow of Christ as our Trespass offering - Col 2:13-note Cp Lv 5:15-note, Lv 22:14-16 Cp Lv 6:2-5-note, Eph 4:25-32, Jas 5:16 Adapted from Believer's Bible Commentary & Irving Jensen THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT Numbers 15:38–41 Alan Carr Introduction: By way of introduction, please turn to Matthew 9:20–22 and Matthew 14:36. In both of these passages we are told of people being healed by touching the “hem” of our Lord’s garment. When we think of the kind of clothing worn by men in those days, we know that men wore long, flowing robes. We think of the “hem” as being the very bottom portion of the robe; the part nearest the ground. We get the picture of the woman with the issue of blood stooping down to the ground, and touching the very bottom of His robe. I would like to challenge that image just a little today. The word “hem” means “fringe, tassel, or the border of a garment”. Now, you will notice back in Numbers 15:38, they are told to “make fringes in the borders of their garments.” The word “fringe” means the same things as the word “hem” in Matthew. It is the word “Tzitzit” and it speaks of a “tassel”. In ancient times, a man’s clothing was essentially a long, rectangular cloth that draped down over the body. It had four corners at the bottom. The Israelites were to attach tassels to the four corners of their garments and hem the garment in blue. Over time, clothing styles changed, and robes became more rounded at the bottom. They no longer had four corners, so the Israelites developed something called the “Tallit”. I have one with me today, so you can see what I am talking about. This is a Jewish prayer shawl. You will notice that this cloth has four corners and a long tassel hanging down from each. This “tallit” is similar to that which Jewish people have used for thousands of years. From reading the Gospels, it seems clear that Jesus wore a “tallit”, as did all orthodox Jews in His day. So, when the woman touched the “hem” of His garment, what she touched was one of the four “tassels”. A person uses the prayer shawl by reading an inscription that is embroidered into the garment. He is to kiss the first word of the inscription, kiss the last word of the inscription and then he places the shawl over his head for a moment of reflection. Then, the cloth is placed on the shoulders. During times of deep prayer, the head is wrapped in the “tallit” to shut off the worshiper from the word. Many commentators believe this is what Jesus had in mind in Matt, 6:6 when He told His followers to enter into their closets to pray. The “tallit” can be found throughout the Old Testament. When David cut off the bottom of Saul’s garment, he cut off the “tzitzit” or tassel, 1 Sam. 24:1–22. Saul’s garment was seen as a symbol of his authority to reign as king. “Skirt” is the same word as the word “borders”. When Samuel rebuked Saul for failing to kill all the Amalekites, their king and their cattle, Samuel turned to go and Saul reached out to stop him. In doing so, he ripped the tassel from Samuel’s garment. Samuel used this as a picture of what God was going to do with the kingdom of Israel. It was to be ripped out of Saul’s grip, 1 Sa 15:1–31. Again, “skirt” is the same word that is translated “borders” in our text. When Elijah was taken up in to Heaven, Elisha was given Elijah’s mantel. This was probably his “tallit”. Malachi said that “the Sun of righteousness” would “arise with healing in his wings”, Mal. 4:2. The word “wings” is the same as the word “borders” in Nu. 15:38. The significance of the prayer shawl was not in the cloth, but in the tassels themselves. If you will bear with me for a few moments, I would like to share some fascinating truths about the “tallit” and the “tzitzits”, or tassels. They are formed from four strands of thread, which are doubled making eight strands. One of the strings, usually a blue string, is much longer than the others. (Note: Since the shellfish from which the dye used to prepare the blue cord is extinct, most Jews use all white strings. Some use black, however, as a symbol of mourning over the destruction of the Temple.) These strands are tied in a series of five knots, with a certain number of windings from the longer string, between each knot. The five knots represent the Torah, or the five books of the Law. The Torah is identical to the first five books of our English Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Between the five knots there are four windings. In the first, the string is wound around seven times. In the second, it is wound around eight times. In the third, it is wound around eleven times. In the fourth, it is wound around thirteen times. These windings are very significant to the Jews. Each letter of the Hebrew alphabet has a numerical value. The first three windings (7+8+11) equal twenty-six and this number is equal to the Hebrew value for the Name of God. This Name is YHWH and is called the “Tetragrammon”. It is the word we know as “Yahweh” or “Jehovah”. Thirteen can refer to the attributes of God that the Jews believed He possessed. Another interpretation is that if you add the five knots with eight strands you get the number thirteen. The numerical value of the word for tassel (Tzitzit) is 600. Add these numbers together and you get 613. This is the number of laws that are found in the Torah, or the first five books of the Bible. There are 365 “thou shalt nots” and 248 “thou shalts”. As our text says, “that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD”. The tassels on the border of a man’s garments were there to be a constant reminded of his relationship to God and to God’s Law. Since they were to be on the four corners of the garments, no matter which way he turned, he would be reminded of the Law and of his responsibility to the Law. These verses reveal some important facts about the “tallit”. They can help us to understand what was so special about the “hem of His garment”. I want to show you why God told the Israelites to wear the “tallit”. I would like for us to see that we need some reminders from time to time too! Let’s take some time today to look at The Hem Of His Garment. Here is what the “hem” or “tassels” of His garment was for. The “prayer shawl” with its “tassels” was a reminder of: I. Numbers 15:40–41 THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD A The Jews are to wear the tassels on their garments as a constant reminder of their relationship to the Lord. The word “your” in these verses signifies a personal relationship. God purchased them unto Himself; we will say more about that in a few moments. They were always to remember who they were, Who’s they where and what was expected of them. Their garments were a constant reminder that they were a “kingdom of priests, and a holy nation”, Ex. 19:6. They were to remember that they were like no other group of people in the world. They were in a faith relationship with the Jehovah God, and they were to constantly remind themselves of this truth. The blue in the garment was the color of heaven. It was there to remind them of their high, heavenly calling among all the nations of the world. The Jews came to believe that they were saved by keeping the Law. In fact, the Hebrew inscription around the neck of the Tallit (Prayer Shawl) reads, “Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Who makes us holy with commandments, and has commanded us to wrap ourselves in the tzitzit.” B. We need this reminder too! Salvation is not about what you do, it is about Who you know. We are not made holy by the commandments, but by the blood of Jesus, Eph. 1:7. Salvation is about being in a personal, faith relationship with God, through the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ill. John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Acts 16:31; 1 John 5:12.) Salvation is not keeping rules; salvation rests on grace and faith alone, Eph. 2:8–9. II. Numbers 15:39–40 THEIR REQUIREMENTS BEFORE GOD A. The tassels on the four corners of their garments reminded the ancient Jews that they were required to obey the Lord of God. No matter which way they turned, they would see the tassels and be instantly reminded of their obligation to keep the Lord’s commandments. When we think of the commandments, we always think there are only ten. The Jewish rabbis identified 613 commandments in the Torah. There were 365 “Thou shalt nots” and 248 “Thou shalts”. The tassels on the borders of their garments were a constant reminder of their responsibility to keep the Law. B. We need to be reminded too! While we are not saved by keeping the commandments, we prove our love for God by keeping the commandments, John 14:15, 21. We do not need a prayer shawl or tassels on our clothes to remind us that we are to do right and live right. When a person receives Jesus, they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. When He enters a life, He changes that life, 2 Cor. 5:17, and He leads that person into an ever deepening relationship with Jesus Christ, John 16:13–15. The redeemed child of God will not be perfect, but he will be different and he will have a desire to live right and to get closer to the Lord Who saved him. The lack of such a change and desire indicates a lack of salvation, 1 John 2:3–4; 1 John 5:2–3. (Ill. Psalm 19:7–11) III. Numbers 15:39b THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES BEFORE GOD A. The Jews were also reminded that they had an obligation to separate themselves from evil and to walk in the ways of the Lord. The idea of keeping the commandments speaks to external obedience. The idea expressed in this verse is of internal obedience. The Jews were to conform to the will of God and the ways of God both internally and externally. They were to obey on the outside and on the inside. They were to do their will of God from the heart. It was possible for a person to keep the letter of the Law and violate the spirit of the Law. They might do everything the Law said, but hate every minute of it. They might manifest complete external obedience to the Law of God, and all the while break the law with the attitudes and affections of the heart. This problem was addressed by Jesus in the Sermon On The Mount, Matt. 5:27–48. (Ill. Adultery, oaths, vengeance, and forgiveness) B. We need this reminder too! Many people seem to think that since they have prayed a prayer and joined a church, they are free to do as they please and live as they want. Not so! The Lord expects His people to live separated, holy lives; both internally and externally! We seem to think that there is some disconnect between what we think and what we do. We seem to think that we are all right as long as we do not actually commit a physical act of sin. We seem to think that if we think and don’t do it, then everything is fine. That is not what Jesus thinks! We seem to think that some sins are not as devastating as other sins. We think we can hold a grudge; talk about people; complain; be slack in our giving and our church attendance; but as long as we don’t cuss, steal, commit murder or adultery, then we are doing great. That is not what Jesus thinks! C.Jesus thinks that what we do on the outside always begins on the inside, Mark 7:1–23. Every sin you commit on the outside, begins in the inside. So, how many sins do you commit in your heart? Jesus is looking for total obedience; not just outward obedience. He knows that of the heart is right the outside will be right too. He also knows that the outside can look fine, while the inside can be filthy. This is called “hypocrisy”. This word refers to “an actor, an imposter; a pretender.” God desires that the people who call themselves by His name be the real deal, both internally and externally! IV. Numbers 15:41 THEIR REDEMPTION BY GOD A. The tassels on their garments were there to remind them that they were a special people. They had been purchased to the Lord by the blood of thousands of lambs, Ex. 12. They had been redeemed from their bondage and released from their slavery and they were never to forget what the Lord has done for them in Egypt. The tassels reminded them that God has been faithful to them. He had led them, fed them and blessed them above all nations. They were to remember that He had brought them out in order to bring them in, Deut. 6:23. The tassels reminded them that they were part of God’s eternal plan. The tassels on their garments were a reminder that they were the people of the Lord, and they were to never forget that fact! B. We need this reminder today! We must never forget the terrible price that was paid to redeem us. We must never forget that God robed Himself in humanity, dwelled among men and died on a cross to secure our redemption, Isa. 53:4–6. We must never forget that He rose from the dead on the third day, ascended back to Heaven and sits there as our Intercessor today. We must never forget that He is coming back to get us some day to take us home to be with Him in Heaven, John 14:1–3. May we never forget who we are; what we are; why He saved us and where He is taking us! Conclusion When the woman with the issue of blood came up behind Jesus and touched the tassels of His garment, she was touching more than a prayer shawl! She was embracing the promise of Malachi 4:2. She was looking for healing in His “wings” or “border”. She looked upon Jesus and she believed that He was Who He claimed to be. She saw Him as the Messiah and like Ruth, she was asking the heavenly Boaz to spread His “skirt” over her, Ruth 3:9. The word “skirt” is the same word that is translated “border” in Num. 15:38. She was doing what the Psalmist did in Psalm 91:1–7. She was asking to come under the shelter of the “wings” of God, v. 4. The word “wings” is the same word translated “border” in Num. 15:38. Do you get the picture? When she touched the tassel, or the hem of His garment, it was the same as touching Him! She looked to Him by faith and when her faith touched His grace she was healed! She was claiming her right as a daughter of Abraham. She was looking to her Messiah and trusting Him to deliver her from her situation. She was claiming the promises of the Word of God and resting in the grace of God. She came to the right Person in the right manner and she got what she needed! Do you need to touch Him today? Has He spoken to your heart through this message? Here is the invitation: If you are lost and would like to come under the shelter of His wings, so you can enjoy His salvation, you come. Touch the hem of His garment today! If you are not walking in humble obedience, whether it is externally or internally, you come. Touch the hem of His garment today! If there are problems and burdens in your life and you know you need help, you come. Touch the hem of His garment today! We do not need a tallit to get what we need from God. All we need is what the woman who touched Him had: faith. Come to Him, come today and get the help you need!