Commands For Canaan (15:1-41)
Neal Pollard
As the people cope with the initial shock and disappointment of being denied the promised land, God gives them various and sundry commandments (22,23,31,39,40). He’ll speak of one law and one rule for all in the nation (16,29). The commands and rules center around sacrifice, whether offerings by pledge, freewill, feast, or first-fruit (1-21) or to atone for sin (22-29). There is also provision made to punish the “high-handed” and rebellious sinner (30-31). At the end of the chapter, there is a “test case” for the laws God is giving. A man is found gathering sticks in the wilderness on the Sabbath. They learn that the man should be stoned to death (32-36). Finally, there is the introduction of the tassel “to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord” (37-41) that will be taken to extremes by religious hypocrites in Jesus’ day (Mat. 23:5).
James Smith gives a great chapter summary:
Six regulations were set forth. (1) The quantities of grain, wine and oil which were to accompany the voluntary burnt offerings and “sacrifices” (i.e., peace offerings) were specified. (2) Israelite and non-Israelite alike would be expected to abide by the demands of the Law in Canaan “for the generations to come.” (3) The law regarding first fruits was sharpened. (4) Provision was made for the forgiveness of sins due to ignorance and oversight. (5) The penalty for commission of a “high handed” sin was being cut off from the people. (6) Tassels were to be worn on the four corners of their outer garments to remind them of their duty to obey all the commands of the Lord (Pentateuch, 435).
While these people were denied the land, this is a show of God’s goodness. He extends hope to a people who rejected hope, saying, “When you come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving you” (2). They could share this with their children and prepare them. They could be reminded of what God wanted for them.
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