Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Numbers Chapter 15
Overview
Num 15:1, The law of the meat offering, and the drink offering; Num 15:14, The stranger is under the same law; Num 15:17, The law of the first of the dough for an heave offering; Num 15:22, The sacrifice for sins of ignorance; Num 15:30, The punishment of presumption; Num 15:32, He that violated the sabbath is stoned; Num 15:37, The law of fringes.
It is very probable, that the transactions recorded in this and the four following chapters took place during the time the Israelites abode in Kadesh (Deu 1:46).
Num 15:18; Lev 14:34, Lev 23:10, Lev 25:2; Deu 7:1, Deu 7:2, Deu 12:1, Deu 12:9
will make: Exo 29:18, Exo 29:25, Exo 29:41; Lev 1:2, Lev 1:3, Lev 1:9, Lev 1:13, Lev 1:17, Lev 10:13
a burnt: Lev. 1:1-17
a sacrifice: Lev 7:16, Lev 22:18-23; Deu 12:11
performing: Heb. separating, Lev 27:2
or in a freewill: Lev 22:21, Lev 22:23; Deu 12:6, Deu 12:17, Deu 16:10
in your: Num 28:16-19, Num 28:27, Num 29:1, Num 29:2, Num 29:8, 13-40; Lev 23:8, Lev 23:12, Lev 23:36; Deut. 16:1-17
a sweet: Gen 8:21; Exo 29:18; Mat 3:17; Eph 5:2; Phi 4:18
the herd: Under the term bakar, are comprehended the ox, heifer, etc; and under tzon, are included sheep and goats. The animals enjoined in the Levitical law are the very same which commanded Abraham to offer (Gen 15:9). Hence it is evident, that God delivered to the patriarchs an epitome of that law which was afterwards given in detail to Moses, the essence of which consisted in its sacrifices; and these sacrifices were of clean animals, the most perfect, useful, and healthy of all that are brought under the immediate government of man. Gross feeding and ferocious animals were all excluded, as well as all birds of prey.
a meat: Exo 29:40; Lev 2:1, Lev 6:14, Lev 7:9, Lev 7:10, Lev 23:13; Isa 66:20; Mal 1:11; Rom 15:16; Heb 13:16
the fourth: Num 28:5-8; Exo 29:40; Lev 2:15, Lev 14:10, Lev 23:13; Jdg 9:9; Eze 46:14
Num 28:7, Num 28:14; Jdg 9:13; Psa 116:13; Sol 1:4; Zac 9:17; Mat 26:28, Mat 26:29; Phi 2:17; Ti2 4:6
peace: Lev 3:1, Lev 7:11-18
a meat: Num 29:6; Lev 6:14, Lev 7:37, Lev 14:10; Ch1 21:23; Neh 10:33; Eze 42:13; Eze 46:5, Eze 46:7, Eze 46:11, Eze 46:15; Joe 1:9, Joe 2:14
One: Num 15:29, Num 9:14; Exo 12:49; Lev 24:22; Gal 3:28; Eph 2:11-22; Col 3:11
an ordinance: Num 10:8, Num 18:8; Exo 12:14, Exo 12:24, Exo 12:43; Sa1 30:25
The oblation before prescribed seems to have been a general acknowledgment from the people at large; but this was an oblation from every one that reaped a harvest. who was required, previously to tasting it himself, to offer a portion of dough as a heave-offering to the Lord. This is supposed to have been given to the priests in their several cities, and not carried to the tabernacle.
a cake: Num 18:12; Exo 23:19; Deu 26:2-10; Neh 10:37; Pro 3:9, Pro 3:10; Eze 44:30; Mat 6:33; Rom 11:16; Co1 15:20; Jam 1:18; Rev 14:4
the heave offering: Lev 2:14, Lev 23:20, Lev 23:16, Lev 23:17
This law concerning sins of ignorance, being entirely diverse from one before considered, occasions considerable difficulty (Lev. 4). Some explain that law as relating to sins of commission, this to sins of omission. others explain the one of inadvertent violations of the moral law, and the other of the transgressions of the ceremonial law, and some think that related to the whole nation, this to any one tribe; or that to the bulk of the nation, this to the rulers and elders. The Jews say, that the former law referred to such national transgressions through heedlessness, as consisted with the maintenance of the prescribed worship in the main; but that this especially respected the case of the nation, when through inattention, and the example and authority of wicked rulers, they had turned aside and committed idolatry, or conducted their worship directly contrary to law; yet through a culpable ignorance, and not in presumption. This was evidently the case under several of their kings; and the explanation seems well grounded.
Lev 4:2, Lev 4:13, Lev 4:14, Lev 4:22, Lev 4:27, Lev 5:13, Lev 5:15-17; Psa 19:12; Luk 12:48
if ought: Lev 4:13
without: Heb. from the eyes
one young bullock: Lev 4:14-21
with his: Num 15:8-10
manner: or, ordinance
one kid: Num 28:15; Lev 4:23; Ch2 29:21-24; Ezr 6:17, Ezr 8:35
the priest: Lev 4:20, Lev 4:26; Rom 3:25; Jo1 2:2
forgiven them: Luk 23:34; Act 13:39
Lev 4:27, Lev 4:28; Act 3:17, Act 17:30; Ti1 1:13
one law: Num 15:15, Num 9:14; Lev 16:29, Lev 17:15; Rom 3:29, Rom 3:30
sinneth: Heb. doeth
doeth ought: Num 9:13, Num 14:44; Gen 17:14; Exo 21:14; Lev 20:3, Lev 20:6, Lev 20:10; Deu 1:43, Deu 17:12; Deu 29:19, Deu 29:20; Psa 19:13; Mat 12:32; Heb 10:26, Heb 10:29; Pe2 2:10
presumptuously: Heb. with an 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.
reproacheth: Psa 69:9, Psa 74:18, Psa 74:22, Psa 79:12, Psa 89:51; Pro 14:31; Isa 37:23, Isa 37:24
despised: Lev 26:15, Lev 26:43; Sa2 12:9; Psa 119:126; Pro 13:13; Isa 30:12; Th1 4:8; Heb 10:28, Heb 10:29
his iniquity: Lev 5:1; Psa 38:4; Isa 53:6; Eze 18:20; Pe1 2:24; Pe2 2:21
they found a man: This example seems to have been evidently introduced to illustrate the foregoing law. The man despised the word of the Lord, presumptuously broke his commandment, and on this ground was punished with death. Exo 16:23, Exo 16:27, Exo 16:28, Exo 20:8-10, Exo 35:2, Exo 35:3
John 8:3-20
stone him: Lev 24:14, Lev 24:23; Kg1 21:13; Act 7:58; Heb 13:11, Heb 13:12
fringes in the borders: The word tzitzith properly denotes an ornament resembling a flower. From Num 15:39, 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. Deu 22:12; Mat 9:20, Mat 23:5; Luk 8:44
remember: Exo 13:9; Deu 6:6-9, Deu 11:18-21, Deu 11:28-32; Pro 3:1
ye seek not: Deu 29:19; Job 31:7; Pro 28:26; Ecc 11:9; Jer 9:14; Eze 6:9
go a whoring: Exo 34:15, Exo 34:16; Psa 73:27, Psa 106:39; Hos 2:2; Jam 4:4
be holy: Lev 11:44, Lev 11:45, Lev 19:2; Rom 12:1; Eph 1:4; Col 1:2; Th1 4:7; Pe1 1:15, Pe1 1:16
Lev 22:33, Lev 25:38; Psa 105:45; Jer 31:31-33, Jer 32:37-41; Eze 36:25-27; Heb 11:16; Pe1 2:9, Pe1 2:10