Numbers 15:22-29

What provision is made for unintentional failures?

Berean Standard Bible

22 Now if you stray unintentionally and do not obey all these commandments that the LORD has spoken to Moses— 23 all that the LORD has commanded you through Moses from the day the LORD gave them and continuing through the generations to come— 24 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. 25 The priest is to make atonement for the whole congregation of Israel, so that they may be forgiven; for the sin was unintentional and they have brought to the LORD a food offering and a sin offering, presented before the LORD for their unintentional sin. 26 Then the whole congregation of Israel and the foreigners residing among them will be forgiven, since it happened to all the people unintentionally. 27 Also, if one person sins unintentionally, he is to present a year-old female goat as a sin offering. 28 And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven. 29 You shall have the same law for the one who acts in error, whether he is a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.

What is the context?

The Lord gives an offering procedure when the congregation unintentionally fails to carry out His commands. The priest makes atonement, and the stated result is forgiveness for the congregation and the resident foreigners involved.

A single person’s unintentional sin also has a prescribed offering. The same law applies to native and foreigner. A failure’s being unintentional does not make it irrelevant, but the instruction supplies a response rather than treating it as the same as defiant rejection.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley and the USCCB notes emphasize omitted duties here in comparison with laws addressing forbidden acts. Both recognize the importance of the distinction from the deliberate contempt described next. The passage’s express promise of forgiveness belongs to the prescribed atonement, not to pretending that the failure never occurred.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

No deeper study linked yet.

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