Num 15 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Num 15:1-41: 15:1-41 Chapters 1–14 took place in a relatively short period of time, but ch 15 describes the beginning of a long period—the bulk of the forty years in the wilderness—about which relatively little is known, though there are references to events that took place during the wilderness wanderings (e.g., Deut 8:2-6 ; 29:5-6 ; Josh 5:4-8 ; Ezek 20:10-26 ; Amos 5:25-26 ; Acts 7:42-43 ). During this period, Moses continued to deliver legislation to govern Israelite society, especially for that day when survivors of the wilderness would finally enter the Promised Land. This chapter deals with three categories of legal matters. Presented in the middle of stories about a stubborn and disobedient Israel, Num 15 raises hope that the Promised Land still awaited Israel’s descendants. Summary for Num 15:1-3: 15:1-3 The implication of these instructions is that the Israelites would someday settle in the Promised Land (14:31 ; 15:18 ).

Summary for Num 15:1-41: 15:1-41 ^a Chapters 1–14 ^b took place in a relatively short period of time, but ch 15 ^c describes the beginning of a long period—the bulk of the forty years in the wilderness—about which relatively little is known, though there are references to events that took place during the wilderness wanderings (e.g., Deut 8:2-6 ^d; 29:5-6 ^e; Josh 5:4-8 ^f; Ezek 20:10-26 ^g; Amos 5:25-26 ^h; Acts 7:42-43 ⁱ). During this period, Moses continued to deliver legislation to govern Israelite society, especially for that day when survivors of the wilderness would finally enter the Promised Land. This chapter deals with three categories of legal matters. Presented in the middle of stories about a stubborn and disobedient Israel, Num 15 ^j raises hope that the Promised Land still awaited Israel’s descendants.
Summary for Num 15:1-3: 15:1-3 ^k The implication of these instructions is that the Israelites would someday settle in the Promised Land (14:31 ^l; 15:18 ^m).
15:3 ⁿ special gifts ... a pleasing aroma to the Lord: God is pleased by the honor and thanksgiving that sacrifices and offerings show him.
Summary for Num 15:12-16: 15:12-16 ^o All inhabitants of the land, Israelite and foreign-born, were to be equal before the Lord in all matters (see also Lev 24:22 ^p).
Summary for Num 15:17-21: 15:17-21 ^q These gifts, signs of gratitude to God for agricultural bounty, were expected to begin after the Hebrews reached the Promised Land and had begun planting crops.
Summary for Num 15:22-29: 15:22-29 ^r Unintentional sins were treated differently than intentional sins (15:30-31 ^s), and the actions of the community were distinguished from those of an individual (see also Lev 4–5 ^t).
Summary for Num 15:30-31: 15:30-31 ^u While atonement could be made for unwitting or inadvertent sins (15:22-29 ^v), anyone who brazenly (literally with a high hand; cp. Exod 14:8 ^w) violated the Lord’s will was guilty of blasphemy and suffered the consequences (cp. Lev 24:10-16 ^x; see also Deut 17:2-6 ^y; Heb 10:26-31 ^z).

• cut off from the community: See study notes on Exod 31:14-15; Lev 7:20-21.
Summary for Num 15:32-36: 15:32-36 ^aa This case illustrates 15:30-31 ^ab. The Sabbath was the Lord’s holy day, which was not to be disregarded (Exod 20:8-11 ^ac; 31:14-15 ^ad; 35:1-3 ^ae).
15:34 ^af Though there was no question about the man’s guilt, it is possible that the community was uncertain how to punish him. The death sentence was an appropriate penalty, because disregard of the Sabbath signaled a rejection of God’s gracious covenant with Israel (Exod 31:12-17 ^ag) and was akin to blasphemy (Num 15:30 ^ah; Lev 24:10-16 ^ai; cp. 1 Tim 1:20 ^aj).
Summary for Num 15:37-41: 15:37-41 ^ak Had the Hebrews remembered their special relationship with the Lord, they might have avoided the problems reported in Numbers. The tassels reminded Israel of their special relationship with a holy God and his demands. He had redeemed his people from Egypt, and in keeping with his call to covenant relationship with himself he expected them to observe the law (cp. Deut 6:6-9 ^al; Matt 9:20 ^am; 14:36 ^an; 23:5 ^ao).

• The color blue signified royalty and reflected God’s holiness.