NUMBERS CHAPTERS 15-18 Chapter 15 The thirty-eight years of wilderness wandering can be considered to have commenced with this chapter. “Because the adult generation of Israel had been sentenced to die in the wilderness it became necessary for the younger ones to understand the requirements of their covenant relationship” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 232). This chapter anticipates offerings that will be offered when the new generation finally reaches the land of promise (15:2 “When you enter the land”). The first part (15:1-12) deals with supplementary grain and drink offerings which were to accompany any kind of burnt sacrifice. “The legislation looked forward to a time when the Israelites would be able to harvest grain in their own land (Lev. 23:10). It was not imposed as an accompaniment to wilderness burnt offerings because grain and oil, the products of a developed agricultural economy, were scarce in a desert milieu. Thus these enactments reflect a wilderness environment and confirm the genuine nature of the narrative’s historical perspective” (Harrison p. 222). Once again, God is merciful and reasonable! 15:4 “one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour”-nearly two quarts. “one-fourth a hin of oil”-nearly one quart. 15:6 For a larger animal, the grain and drink offering were also to be larger. The same was true if a bull, an even larger animal, was offered (15:8-10). “The offering of a sacrifice represented a considerable financial outlay for the worshippers, which in itself tested their seriousness and sincerity” (Harrison p. 222). 15:13-16 Provision was made for non-Israelites to participate in such offerings. But in each instance he or she had to conform to the procedures followed by God’s own people. Note, no substitution, addition, ad-libbing or subtraction was
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