Numbers 15:22 - Meaning and Application

Here we have the laws about sacrifices for sins done in ignorance. The Jews understood this mainly of idolatry, or false worship, that happened because of the mistakes of their teachers. The case assumed here is that the people had not kept all these commandments (Numbers 15:22-23). If they had failed to bring the gifts that showed their thanks and obedience, then they still had to bring an offering for atonement, even if the failure came from forgetfulness or a mistake. If they missed one part of the ceremony, they had to make it right by obeying another part. In that way, this law served as a remedy.

The first case is a national sin committed through ignorance and then kept up by common error (Numbers 15:24). The whole congregation means the people as a body, as verse 25 explains, “all the congregation of the children of Israel.” The ceremonial laws were so many and so varied that some could easily be forgotten or slowly neglected, especially the one just mentioned about offering part of their dough. If, over time, careful study of the law showed that the whole nation had neglected that command, or any other, then a sacrifice had to be offered for the whole people, and the mistake would be forgiven (Numbers 15:25-26). It would not be punished with the national judgment it deserved. The phrase “according to the manner” or “according to the ordinance” points back to an earlier law, which is repeated here. The same bullock that is called a sin offering in Leviticus 4:13 and 4:21 is here called a burnt offering (Numbers 15:24), because it was completely burned, though not on the altar, but outside the camp. A goat was also added as a sin offering.

By this law, Hezekiah, king of Judah, made atonement for the sins of his father’s reign with seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats, which he offered as a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary, Judah (2 Chronicles 29:21), and all Israel. We see a similar offering after the return from exile (Ezra 8:35).

The law also speaks of a single person: “If any soul sins through ignorance” (Numbers 15:27). That means someone who leaves out some part of his duty. He must bring the offering that had been appointed for that case (Leviticus 4:27 and following). In this way, atonement is made for the person who sinned in ignorance (Numbers 15:28). Sins done in ignorance still need atonement, because ignorance may lessen guilt, but it does not excuse those who could have known their Master’s will and did not do it. David prayed to be cleansed from his hidden faults, that is, sins he did not even know about, the errors he did not understand (Psalm 19:12).

Sins done in ignorance are forgiven through Christ, the great sacrifice, who offered himself once for all on the cross. He seemed to explain the purpose of his own offering when he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Paul also seems to refer to this law about sins of ignorance when he says, “I received mercy, because I had acted ignorantly and in unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:13). It is also a gracious sign that this law was made to include foreigners living among Israel, who were thought of as proselytes, meaning Gentiles who had joined themselves to the true faith (Numbers 15:29). In that way, the blessing promised to Abraham came upon the Gentiles.