Keraia
Numbers 15

Numbers 15:24

Offerings for Unintentional Sins · Numbers 15:22–31
Read Numbers 15

Translations

Modern
…and if it was done unintentionally without the knowledge of the congregation, then the whole congregation is to prepare one young bull as a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD, with its grain offering and drink offering according to the regulation, and one male goat as a sin offering.
Traditional
Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the Lord, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
Literal
…then it will be, if away from the eyes of the congregation it is committed in error, that all the congregation shall offer one bull, a son of the herd, as a burnt offering, for a pleasing aroma to YHWH, and with its grain offering and its drink offering according to the ordinance, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
Latin
…oblitaque fuerit facere multitudo: offeret vitulum de armento, holocaustum in odorem suavissimum Domino, et sacrificum ejus ac liba, ut cæremoniæ postulant, hircumque pro peccato:

Original

Hebrew
English
…and if it was done unintentionally without the knowledge of the congregation, then the whole congregation is to prepare one young bull as a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD, with its grain offering and drink offering according to the regulation, and one male goat as a sin offering.

Notes

Numbers 15:22–29

Sins done without knowing were treated differently from sins done on purpose (15:30–31). The law also made a difference between the actions of the whole community and the actions of one person (see also Leviticus 4–5).

Numbers 15:1–41

Chapters 1–14 cover a short time period, but chapter 15 marks the start of a long period. This is the main part of the forty years in the wilderness, about which little is known. There are references to events during this time (for example, Deuteronomy 8:2–6; 29:5–6; Joshua 5:4–8; Ezekiel 20:10–26; Amos 5:25–26; Acts 7:42–43).

During this period, Moses continued to give laws to guide Israel’s life as a nation. These laws would be especially important in the future. They were meant for the day when the people who survived the wilderness would enter the promised land.

This chapter addresses three main types of laws. Numbers 15 is in the middle of stories about a stubborn and disobedient Israel. It offers hope that the promised land still waited for the next generation of Israel’s people.

Theme notes and profiles

Atonement

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of Numbers, Book of Offerings and Sacrifices Wilderness Wanderings

Topics

Atonement: Made by Animal Sacrifices Ignorance: Sins of Offerings: Burnt: Ordinances Concerning Offerings: Drink: Libations of Wine offered with the Sacrifices Offerings: Meat: Ordinances Concerning