Albert Barnes Commentary Numbers 15
Albert Barnes Commentary
Numbers 15
Albert Barnes Commentary
Numbers 15
"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying," — Numbers 15:1 (ASV)
The contents of the next five chapters must apparently be referred to the long period of wandering to which (Numbers 14:33) the people were condemned.
"Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you," — Numbers 15:2 (ASV)
To the Israelites of the younger generation is conveyed the hope that the nation should still enter into the land of promise. The ordinances that follow are more likely to have been addressed to adults than to children; and we may therefore assume that at the time of their delivery, the new generation was growing up, and the period of wandering drawing toward its close.
During that period, the meat-offerings and drink-offerings prescribed by the Law had probably been suspended because of the scanty supply of grain and wine in the wilderness. The command, therefore, to provide such offerings was a pledge to Israel that it should possess the land which was to furnish the resources for them.
"then shall he that offereth his oblation offer unto Jehovah a meal-offering of a tenth part [of an ephah] of fine flour mingled with the fourth part of a hin of oil: and wine for the drink-offering, the fourth part of a hin, shalt thou prepare with the burnt-offering, or for the sacrifice, for each lamb. Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare for a meal-offering two tenth parts [of an ephah] of fine flour mingled with the third part of a hin of oil: and for the drink-offering thou shalt offer the third part of a hin of wine, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah. And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt-offering, or for a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or for peace-offerings unto Jehovah; then shall he offer with the bullock a meal-offering of three tenth parts [of an ephah] of fine flour mingled with half a hin of oil: and thou shalt offer for the drink-offering half a hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah. Thus shall it be done for each bullock, or for each ram, or for each of the he-lambs, or of the kids. According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to every one according to their number." — Numbers 15:4-12 (ASV)
The meat-offering is treated in Leviticus 2. The drink-offering (Exodus 29:40; Leviticus 23:13), until now an ordinary accessory to the former, is now prescribed for every sacrifice.
"Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you," — Numbers 15:18 (ASV)
The general principle which includes the ordinance of this and the three verses following is laid down in Exodus 22:29; Exodus 23:19.
"Of the first of your dough ye shall offer up a cake for a heave-offering: as the heave-offering of the threshing-floor, so shall ye heave it. Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto Jehovah a heave-offering throughout your generations." — Numbers 15:20-21 (ASV)
Dough - “ Coarse meal” (Nehemiah 10:37); (Ezekiel 44:30).
Jump to: