Numbers 15 18

Numbers 15:18 kjv

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you,

Numbers 15:18 nkjv

"Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land to which I bring you,

Numbers 15:18 niv

"Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter the land to which I am taking you

Numbers 15:18 esv

"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land to which I bring you

Numbers 15:18 nlt

"Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. "When you arrive in the land where I am taking you,

Numbers 15 verses

Numbers 15 18 Meaning

Numbers chapter 15, verse 18 marks the beginning of a series of divine instructions given to the Israelites regarding specific offerings and regulations they were to observe once they had entered and settled in the Promised Land. This verse particularly sets the stage, announcing to the "children of Israel" that when they come into the land God is bringing them into, certain further commands will apply. It functions as a foundational premise for the following statutes concerning grain offerings, drink offerings, and firstfruits, emphasizing the Lord's active role in fulfilling His promise to bring them into the land.

Numbers 15 18 Context

Numbers chapter 15 follows immediately after the dire consequences of Israel's rebellion and unbelief at Kadesh-barnea (Numbers 13-14), where they refused to enter the Promised Land and were subsequently condemned to forty years of wilderness wandering, during which the rebellious adult generation would die. Given this immediate backdrop of national failure and judgment, the divine instructions in Numbers 15 come as a profound statement of God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises. Despite their disobedience, God reiterates His intent to bring the new generation into the land. Verses 17-21, initiated by verse 18, particularly introduce the law of the "first of your dough" offering, emphasizing that once they settle and derive sustenance from the land, they are to acknowledge God as the source of their provision through specific offerings. This set of laws provides concrete details for their life as a settled nation, in stark contrast to their current transient wilderness existence, offering a beacon of hope and a divine affirmation of future entry and possession.

Numbers 15 18 Word analysis

• "Speak" (דַּבֵּר, dabber): This is an imperative command, directly from God through Moses, indicating an authoritative pronouncement. It signifies God initiating communication, reminding Israel of their covenant relationship and His ongoing engagement with them despite their past failures.
• "unto the children of Israel" (אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, el b'nei Yisra'el): This foundational phrase identifies the direct recipients of God's covenant instructions. It stresses their corporate identity as God's chosen people, underscoring that these commands pertain to the entire community, past and future generations.
• "and say unto them" (וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם, v'amarta aleihem): This is a strong reiteration of the command to speak, ensuring that the message is clearly and formally delivered. It emphasizes the importance and divine origin of the following instructions.
• "When ye come" (בְּבֹאֲכֶם, b'vo'achem): This word signifies a conditional future event but one presented as a certainty. It points to a time when Israel will transition from their current nomadic existence to a settled agricultural life in the land. The use of "when" rather than "if" assures them of their ultimate entry, despite the impending wilderness wanderings and the rebellion of the previous generation.
• "into the land" (אֶל הָאָרֶץ, el ha'aretz): Refers to Canaan, the specific geographical territory promised to Abraham and his descendants. This "land" is not just territory; it represents the fulfillment of God's covenant, a place of rest, abundance, and fellowship with God, symbolizing God's faithfulness and ultimate provision.
• "whither I bring you" (אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מֵבִיא אֶתְכֶם שָׁמָּה, asher ani mevi etchem shammah): This phrase underscores God's sovereignty and active agency. It is not Israel's might or strategy that will secure the land, but God Himself who will infallibly bring them there. This reaffirms God's omnipotence and faithfulness to His promise, distinguishing Israel's destiny from the achievements of surrounding nations who relied on their own strength or local deities. It implicitly asserts a polemic against reliance on human effort or other gods for prosperity and security.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them": This formal, double command highlights the gravity and divine authority of the message. It underscores that these are not merely suggestions but binding covenant stipulations directly from the Lord to His chosen people. This direct communication re-establishes the broken covenant relationship after the Kadesh-barnea rebellion.
• "When ye come into the land whither I bring you": This key phrase sets the future context for the laws. It unequivocally declares that entry into the Promised Land is a divine certainty, not a contingent possibility. The "bringing" by God is an active, ongoing process, beginning from their exodus and culminating in their settlement in Canaan. This assures the surviving generation that despite their fathers' failures and the intervening judgment of wandering, God's ultimate plan of deliverance and inheritance will be realized through His own power and faithfulness.

Numbers 15 18 Bonus section

The placement of Numbers 15 immediately after the Kadesh-barnea rebellion and before the detailed account of Korah's rebellion (Num 16) is significant. It serves as a divine interlude, demonstrating God's sovereign intent to fulfill His promises despite human rebellion and demonstrating His long-suffering patience. This verse, by pointing to a settled life in the land, foreshadows Israel's future identity not as nomadic wanderers, but as a consecrated nation inhabiting their divine inheritance. The specific laws that follow this verse concerning "the first of your dough" were not merely agricultural rules but spiritual disciplines, designed to continuously remind the Israelites that the land, its produce, and their very existence in it were blessings from Yahweh, calling for gratitude, humility, and ongoing worship. It also implied that the Abrahamic covenant of land inheritance, being unconditional, would certainly be realized for a new generation.

Numbers 15 18 Commentary

Numbers 15:18 functions as a pivotal announcement, bridging the wilderness experience with the anticipated life in Canaan. Given immediately after a devastating demonstration of Israel's faithlessness and divine judgment, this verse delivers a message of profound grace and assured hope. God, by declaring when they will enter the land rather than if, reaffirms His steadfast covenant love and His unwavering commitment to His promises to Abraham. The ensuing laws, particularly those concerning grain offerings from the harvest, signify a fundamental shift from reliance on divine provision (manna) to acknowledging God's blessing in agricultural prosperity, reinforcing the core theological truth that the land and its fruitfulness are gifts from Him alone. This instruction, given amid wilderness wandering, served as an essential lesson in future devotion and a clear warning against assimilation to Canaanite agricultural and fertility worship practices, which attributed blessings to false gods. It was a proactive measure, setting the spiritual expectations for a people who would live by God's Law in the land He graciously provided.