MPV Commentary

1-2 The Lord spoke to Moses and said, "Speak to the Israelites about making an offering by fire to me, a burnt offering." Some scholars believe this command was given towards the end of their wilderness wanderings and that all sacrifices prescribed in the law were to be offered only after they settled in Canaan.

3-4 The offering should consist of a tenth deal (an omer) of flour, which is one-tenth of an ephah, and four-tenths of a hin of oil. This shows it was different from other meat offerings made by the Israelites, not just accompaniments to other sacrifices.

6-12 The quantity of flour was increased because this sacrifice was more valuable than the previous one. The accessory sacrifices were always increased in proportion to the greater worth and magnitude of its principal.

13-16 A stranger who had become a proselyte could participate fully in the national privileges of the Israelites, including making these offerings, if they conformed to certain conditions.

19 When you eat bread from the land, you must offer up an heave offering to the Lord. This offering was to precede the act of eating.

20 A heave offering of the threshing-floor refers to the corn on the threshing-floor after harvest. The Israelites were to heave it to the priests accompanying the ceremony with the same rites.

22 If you have erred and not observed all these commandments, including those related to performing divine worship and its associated rituals, you must make a sin offering for your error.

24-26 If something is committed through ignorance, this law includes the stranger in the number of those for whom the sacrifice was offered for the sin of general ignorance.

27-29 If any person sins through ignorance, not only as part of the general body of people but also personally, their sin must be expiated in the same manner.

30 The soul that does something presumptuously, knowingly and wilfully, sets itself against the Lord and dishonors His majesty. This phraseology occurs in other contexts (Ex 14:8; Le 26:21; Ps 19:13).

31 Their iniquity shall be upon them individually; no guilt shall be incurred by the nation unless there is a criminal carelessness in overlooking the offense.

32-34 A man who gathered sticks on the Sabbath day committed a presumptuous sin. The mere gathering of sticks was not sinful, but doing it on the Sabbath altered its character. This transgression was a known and wilful act, done with unblushing boldness in broad daylight, in open defiance of divine authority.

35-36 The Lord said to Moses, "The man shall be surely put to death." The offense being a violation of the law of the realm, the Sovereign Judge gave orders that this man should be put to death, and required the whole congregation to unite in executing the fatal sentence.

38 The Lord instructed Moses to tell them to make fringes on the borders of their garments. These were narrow strips wrapped over the shoulders and other parts of their attire, covered with a riband of blue or purple color. Both types of fringe are seen on Egyptian and Assyrian frocks; in this case, they were commanded by express ordinances to have them, rendering the fashion subservient to awaken high and religious associations.

41 I am the Lord your God. This solemn conclusion means that despite their frequent rebellions for which they would be doomed to forty years' wanderings, He would not abandon them but continue His divine protection and care of them till they were brought into the land of promise.