Numbers 15
DOYLYChap. XV. ver. 1. And the Lord spake unto Moses,] It is uncertain at what time. Probably the transactions, recorded in this and the four following chapters, took place in Kadesh, where the foregoing murmuring was, and where “they abode many days,” Deut. i. last verse. Dr. Wells, Bp. Patrick.
Numbers 15:14
- — a stranger] There were two sorts of strangers
among the Israelites: some that entirely embraced and professed the Jewish religion, into which they were admitted by circumcision, &c.; others, that lived among them by permission, having renounced all idolatry, but did not submit to their whole religion. The former sort are understood to be meant here. Bp. Patrick.
The punishment of presumption. The sabbath breaker stoned. Before CHRIST 1400. Or, ordinance.
Numbers 15:35
- — The man shall be surely put to death:] The sabbath being intended as a sign, that the Israelites were the special people of that God, who is the Creator of the world, and who brought them out of Egypt; the breach of it was to be regarded in effect as a renouncing of their religion; and was therefore to be punished, not only with death, but with a more than ordinary death. Dr. Wells.
— all the congregation shall stone him &c.] This was a punishment inflicted for very enormous crimes, Lev. xx. 2; xxiv. 12—14: and this man was condemned to suffer it, because he was the first breaker of this sacred law. Besides, by doing it presumptuously, as is supposed from the connexion of this story with the 30th and 31st verses, in contempt of the law; and by not desisting from his impiety, when he was admonished to forbear, as is probable, he highly aggravated his guilt; which was no less than a reproaching of the Lord, and a despising of His word. The Jews have a saying, He that
Numbers 15:39
- And it shall be unto you for a fringe,] Or rather, It, that is, the ribband, shall be unto you upon the fringe; that being of a different colour from the fringe it may be the more noted. Bp. Patrick.
— that ye seek not after your own heart] God here forbids this ignorant nation, who were used to the customs of the Gentiles, to take the measures of His worship, rather from the suggestions of their own vitiated fancies, than from the dictates of His law: and He commands them not to think every thing pleasing to God, which might appear handsome to them, bred up as they were amongst the pompous ceremonies of the Gentiles. God therefore admonishes them, that they should not too much indulge their senses or inclinations in the affair of religion; but that they should hearken to, and rest in, what He Himself delivered to them, concerning Himself and His worship. Locke.
Before CHRIST 1400. s Lev. 24. 12. b Deut. 27. 12. Matt. 23. 3.