Flour, Oil, Wine, Stoning and Tassels

The only thing most people know about Numbers 15 is that a man is stoned for collecting wood on the Sabbath. At first glance it seems an odd collection of laws in an odd place. This seems to fit better with the latter portion of Exodus or the book of Leviticus - but here it is in the midst of the narrative flow of Numbers.

But the context is essential to understanding this text.

Write MERCY and GRACE above Numbers 15, for the Lord gives unmerited favour to Israel in promising that there will come a day when they will have fields to grow grain in, groves to harvest olives from and vineyards to press wine from, and when they do, they should remember the Lord with a sacrifice.