After the failures in chs. 11—14, this chapter was inserted in the divine record perhaps to remind the children of Israel concerning the way to be kept in a proper relationship with God. If the children of Israel had kept the ordinances in this chapter, they would have been rescued from further turmoil (cf. ch. 16).

All the offerings are types of Christ in various aspects. To present an offering to God indicates that we realize that we cannot do anything to please God; hence, we offer Christ to God as our replacement that we may be accepted by God. For the detailed significance of the offerings, see notes in Lev. chs. 1—7 and Lev. 23:13.

Lit, be wonderful to make a vow. So also in v. 8.

The same statute and ordinance were for all the people of Israel and the sojourning strangers and the heathen among the people of Israel (vv. 13-16). This signifies that all the heathens and strangers share Christ in the same way as the people of Israel (Eph. 2:12-19; 3:6).

A cake of the first of the dough signifies Christ as the firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:20, 23). Such a Christ is offered in His ascension (the heave offering) to God as God’s food. The cake in this verse not only refers to Christ Himself but also indicates Christ’s Body, the church (1 Cor. 10:17).

Plural in Hebrew. The unintentional sin of the whole assembly of Israel signifies the unintentional sin of the church against God and man. Although such a sin was unintentional, a burnt offering, with its meal offering and its drink offering, and a sin offering were to be offered so that the whole assembly could be forgiven (vv. 24-26).

See note Lev. 16:1¹. God’s forgiveness is based on the redemption of Christ accomplished for propitiation, without which God has no ground to forgive man (Heb. 9:22) even though He has a heart to do so. Christ’s propitiation affords God the way to fulfill the desire of His forgiving heart. If man takes Christ’s redemptive death as his standing and asks God to forgive him, God must do it based on His righteousness, not on His mercy (1 John 1:9). This is according to God’s governmental administration.

To do things with a high hand is to do as one wishes without caring for others. Those who behave in this way utterly disregard both man and God.

Breaking the Sabbath signifies denying God and all that He has done for us (see note Gen. 2:2^1b and note Exo. 20:8^1a). This results in spiritual death.

See note Matt. 9:20^4b.

A cord signifies binding, and blue signifies heavenly. Hence, a cord of blue signifies that, as children of God, our conduct and behavior should be beautiful and should be under the binding of the heavenly government.