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A Study in Tradition Criticism on the Grain and Drink Offering Accompanied with Animal Sacrifices(Num. 15:1-16)

LI XIAOLIN 1

1목원대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Numbers 15:1-16 deals with the new laws concerning the grain offering and drink offering accompaining animal sacrifices. The text is the response of God to the rebellion of Israelites in Numbers 13 and 14. On the other hand, it prepares and interprets the tragic incident of rebellion casued by Korah and his company(Numbers 16). Numbers 13 is the unfaithful report given by the representatives of the 12 tribes of Israel after spying out the land of Cannan. Numbers 14 is the narratives of Israel’s resentment toward God who led them into the wilderness and God’s judgement against them. But it also shows the arrogance of Israelites as they went up to occupy the land of Canaan again. Later priestly editors emphasized the failure of Israel at the conquest of Canann in Numbers 13-14 and tried to prepare the treason by Korah while at the same time asking its readers to question why Israel failed. The editor attempts to provide the answer in Numbers 15 and 16. Namely, Israel’s future depends on their observance of sacrficial laws(the grain offering, the drink offering, the offering by fire, the free-will offering) which God had instructed them to observe. Priestly writer implies that Israel was put to the judgement for their disobedience in the wilderness but their obedience in the land of Canaan will guarantee hope. Therefore, the text shows that the sacrificial laws to YHWH is the regulations of life. The text puts an emphasis on the importance of Israel’s constant faith in God’s plan to give the land of Canaan to them. Numbers 15:2, “...When you enter the land where you are to live, which I am giving you” presupposes the nature Israel’s sins that were committed in the past. At the same time, through God’s requesting them again to obeserve God’s laws, the observance of the laws is confirmed as the only condition to inherit the land of Canaan. Therefore, the core message of the text is that the natives and the foreigners(rGE) must equally observe the sacrificial laws. And together with the foreigners sojourning in the land of Canaan, Israelites must offer the fruits, wine and oil produced in that land to YHWH.

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