P. The chapter contains a miscellaneous collection of priestly laws on five different subjects: (_a_) Numbers 15:1. The proper meal-offerings and libations which should accompany burnt- and peace-offerings. (_b_) Numbers 15:17. The contribution of the -first of _-arîsôth_." (_c_) Numbers 15:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Meal-offerings and Libations_. These are to accompany both private and public sacrifices, and are arranged according to a fixed scale as follows (_ephah_= _c._1 bushel; _hin_= _c._1½ gallon): _Meal. Oil. Wine_. With every lamb 1/10 ephah. ¼ hin. ¼ hin. With every ram 2/10 ephah ⅓ hin. ⅓ hin. With... [ Continue Reading ]
_an offering by fire_ A general term covering every kind of offering that was consumed on the altar. The next words define the two species of these offerings with which the section deals, i.e. burnt- and peace-offerings, after which are mentioned the different occasions (private and public) on which... [ Continue Reading ]
_the drink-offering_ The wine was offered as a libation to God by being poured out. Whether it was poured on the sacrifice, or, as in later times, at the foot of the altar (Sir 50:15), is uncertain,... [ Continue Reading ]
_homeborn_ i.e. native Israelites.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a stranger a_ SOJOURNER. For this word and the -homeborn," see on Numbers 9:14. _or whosoever be among you_ This appears to mean one who is residing in the land but has not been granted the definite status of a _gêr_or -sojourner." Some, with less probability, understand it of a foreigner who is s... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the assembly_ AS FOR _the assembly_. The subst. is (so to speak) a nominative absolute. It is a general term for the whole of the privileged community, consisting of true Israelites and sojourners.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The offering of -the first of -arîsôth_." The law deals with some species of meal-offering. But the meaning of _-arîsôth_(R.V. -dough," marg. -coarse meal") is obscure. It occurs elsewhere only in Ezekiel 44:30; Nehemiah 10:37. A similar word _-arsân_in Talmudic writings denotes -a porridge or past... [ Continue Reading ]
_an heave-offering a_ CONTRIBUTION. See on Numbers 15:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the first of your dough_ The word _rç"shîth_-the first" need not necessarily mean -first-fruits," which were offered annually. It may be simply -the first part," i.e. a small fixed amount, perhaps at the getting in of each fresh supply for the household.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Propitiation for inadvertent transgressions_(_a_) Numbers 15:22 committed by the congregation as a whole; (_b_) Numbers 15:27 by individuals. To these is added the provision that deliberate transgressions cannot be atoned for (Numbers 15:30). Another set of laws relating to inadvertent transgressio... [ Continue Reading ]
_Errors of the whole congregation_. No detailed instances are given; but such errors might consist in some mistake or omission in ritual, or some miscarriage of justice discovered too late; or the error might not be traceable, but the occurrence of some public catastrophe or trouble would be assumed... [ Continue Reading ]
The offering is a young bullock for a burnt-offering, together with the proper meal-offering and libation, and a he-goat for a sin offering.... [ Continue Reading ]
The offering is _a she-goat of_ ONE YEAR OLD _for a sin-offering_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Errors of an individual_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_with an high hand_ with deliberate defiance. In Numbers 33:3; Exodus 14:8 it is used of the bold defiance with which the Israelites marched out of Egypt. _the same blasphemeth the Lord_ JEHOVAH DOTH HE REVILE. The emphatic position of -Jehovah" lays stress on the enormity of the crime. The -revili... [ Continue Reading ]
_his iniquity shall be upon him_ WITH HIS INIQUITY UPON HIM. The sinner shall be -cut off" (see on Numbers 9:13) with the burden of his sin still attaching to him, and unatoned for. In the Christian dispensation the one great Sacrifice has procured atonement for _all_sinners who repent, even though,... [ Continue Reading ]
_The penalty for breaking the Sabbath_. This section was perhaps placed by the compiler next to the preceding because it relates a signal instance of deliberate transgression.... [ Continue Reading ]
It had been declared in Exodus 31:14 f., Numbers 35:2 (both P) that Sabbath-breaking must be punished with death, but the method of execution had not been laid down. If, however, the meaning is that they did not know what the man's punishment should be, the present passage is independent of those in... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tassels to be worn as a reminder of Jehovah's commandments_.... [ Continue Reading ]
_that they make them_ TASSELS UPON THE CORNERS _of their garments_ This is commanded (with different words for -tassels" and -garments") in Deuteronomy 22:12. No statement is there made as to the reason for the observance. It was probably a very ancient custom, dating from a time when such tassels w... [ Continue Reading ]
_it shall be unto you for a_ TASSEL] The point of this appears to lie in a play on the words _ẓîẓîth_(-tassel") and _ẓîẓ_1 [Note: Used in Exodus 28:36; Exodus 39:30; Leviticus 8:9 of the diadem (R.V. -plate") on the high priest's forehead.] -a shining thing," -an ornament." The tassels are not to be... [ Continue Reading ]