Numbers 15:2

KJV

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you,

KJV (with Strong's)

Speak {H1696} unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, and say {H559} unto them, When ye be come {H935} into the land {H776} of your habitations {H4186}, which I give {H5414} unto you,

Complete Jewish Bible

"Tell the people of Isra'el, 'When you have come into the land where you are going to live, which I am giving to you,

Berean Standard Bible

“Speak to the Israelites and tell them: After you enter the land that I am giving you as a home

American Standard Version

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 15:2 initiates a new set of divine instructions for the Israelites, given while they were still in the wilderness, yet specifically designed for their future life in the Promised Land. This verse, following the severe judgment for the rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea, powerfully underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, affirming His intention to bring the next generation into the land of their inheritance. It serves as a profound declaration of future hope and provides foundational principles for their worship and communal life once settled in the land God was graciously bestowing upon them.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 15:2 marks a pivotal shift in the book of Numbers, immediately following the devastating judgment pronounced in [Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - Rebellion and Judgment at Kadesh-Barnea"). After the generation of adults (twenty years and older) was condemned to die in the wilderness for their unbelief and rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea, chapter 15 opens with God giving detailed instructions for sacrifices and offerings that would be observed *after* they entered and settled in the Promised Land. This forward-looking legislation, given amidst the wilderness wanderings and impending deaths, serves as a powerful testament to God's enduring covenant faithfulness and His commitment to the new generation. It signals a move from the immediate consequences of rebellion to the long-term vision of a settled, worshipping community in their promised inheritance.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** At the time these words were spoken, the Israelites were a nomadic people, living in tents and constantly on the move through the arid wilderness. Their existence was characterized by temporary dwellings and a reliance on divine provision for daily sustenance. The phrase "When ye be come into the land of your habitations" directly contrasts this temporary, wilderness existence with a future state of settled, permanent dwelling. This implied a fundamental shift from a military encampment to an agricultural society, necessitating laws for land-based worship, harvest offerings, and communal life that were not applicable in the wilderness. The concept of "habitations" (Hebrew: *moshvot*) also suggests a return to a more stable, familial, and communal way of life, reminiscent of the patriarchal era before the Egyptian sojourn, but now under the direct covenant of Yahweh.
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 15:2 powerfully encapsulates several core themes central to the Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Promise and Faithfulness**, reiterating God's unwavering commitment to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, despite Israel's repeated failures and the judgment in [Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - Rebellion and Judgment at Kadesh-Barnea"). The explicit declaration "which I give unto you" underscores God's initiative and reliability in fulfilling His word, even when human faith falters. Secondly, it instills **Future Hope and Preparation**, providing a blueprint for the next generation's worship and communal life in a land they had not yet entered. These commands served as a tangible reminder that their wilderness journey was temporary and that a promised future awaited them. Finally, the verse subtly introduces the theme of **God's Gift and Human Responsibility**. The land is unequivocally presented as a gracious divine bestowal, emphasizing God's sovereignty and unmerited favor. However, the subsequent laws in the chapter imply that the continued enjoyment and prosperity within this gifted land would be inextricably linked to the Israelites' faithful obedience to God's statutes, particularly concerning worship and moral conduct, as seen throughout [Deuteronomy](/deuteronomy/1 "The Book of Deuteronomy").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Habitations (Hebrew, _moshvot'_):** Derived from the root *yashav* (to sit, dwell, inhabit), this plural noun signifies settled dwelling places, permanent residences, or fixed abodes. It stands in stark contrast to the nomadic, temporary nature of their wilderness journey, emphasizing the stability, security, and permanence God intended for His people in the Promised Land. It speaks to a state of rest and established community life.
* **Give (Hebrew, _natan'_):** This verb denotes a unilateral act of bestowal, emphasizing the gratuitous nature of the land. It was not something Israel earned through merit, conquest, or even their obedience, but a sovereign gift from God, rooted in His covenant promises. This highlights God's grace and initiative in fulfilling His word, underscoring that the land was an unearned inheritance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them":** This opening phrase establishes the divine origin and authority of the commands that follow. It signifies a direct revelation from God to Moses, intended for the entire community of Israel. This is not human legislation but a divine mandate, setting the tone for the seriousness and binding nature of the instructions.
* **"When ye be come into the land of your habitations":** This clause sets a crucial temporal and geographical condition for the application of the subsequent laws. It clearly indicates that these instructions pertain to a future time when Israel would be settled in the Promised Land, not their current wilderness encampment. The phrase "land of your habitations" paints a picture of permanence, stability, and established community, contrasting sharply with their present nomadic existence.
* **"which I give unto you":** This powerful declaration underscores the divine initiative and the theological basis for Israel's claim to the land. It is not a land they will conquer by their own might alone, nor one they inherently deserve, but a gracious, unmerited gift from Yahweh. This phrase roots their future possession firmly in God's covenant faithfulness and His sovereign promise, particularly to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 15:2 employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is **Anticipation** or **Foreshadowing**, as the verse presents laws for a future reality—the settled life in the Promised Land—while the people are still in the wilderness. This creates a sense of divine purpose and a forward-looking hope despite their current challenging circumstances. There is also clear **Divine Speech** or **Direct Address**, indicated by "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them," which highlights God's direct involvement and authority in providing these future-oriented instructions. Furthermore, the phrase "land of your habitations, which I give unto you" functions as **Covenant Language**, echoing the promises made to the patriarchs regarding the land, reinforcing God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant. Finally, the verse utilizes **Contrast** by implicitly juxtaposing Israel's temporary, nomadic wilderness existence with the future, permanent dwelling in the promised land, emphasizing the transformative nature of God's plan for them.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 15:2 serves as a profound theological anchor, reaffirming God's unwavering covenant faithfulness despite human failure. After the devastating judgment of the wilderness generation, this verse pivots to a future-oriented hope, demonstrating that God's ultimate plans for His people remain steadfast. It underscores that the Promised Land was always a gratuitous gift, not an earned reward, establishing a foundation of grace upon which all subsequent obedience and blessing would rest. This divine initiative in giving the land, coupled with the future-oriented commands, teaches that God's promises are secure and His purposes will prevail, even when His people are in a state of discipline or transition. It calls for a faith that looks beyond present circumstances to the fulfillment of God's word.

* [Genesis 12:7](/genesis/12-7 "God's Promise of Land to Abraham")
* [Deuteronomy 12:9-10](/deuteronomy/12-9 "Rest and Inheritance in the Promised Land")
* [Psalm 105:11](/psalms/105-11 "God's Covenant of Land to Israel")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 15:2 offers a potent message of hope and divine steadfastness for believers today. Just as God gave future-oriented commands to a generation still in the wilderness, we are reminded that God's plans for us are secure, even when our present circumstances are challenging, uncertain, or marked by past failures. This verse encourages us to cultivate a future-oriented faith, trusting in God's provision and faithfulness to bring us into the "land" or spiritual inheritance He has prepared. It prompts us to prepare ourselves for the responsibilities and blessings that await us, not by our own merit, but in response to God's gracious gift. Our obedience, like Israel's, becomes a vital expression of our trust in His promises and our readiness to inhabit the spiritual realities He has for us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's faithfulness to Israel's future, despite their past rebellion, encourage me in my own seasons of waiting or personal failure?**
* **What "future-oriented" commands or spiritual preparations am I, as a believer, called to embrace today in anticipation of God's ultimate plans?**
* **How does recognizing God's gifts (like the land for Israel) shape my sense of responsibility, worship, and gratitude in my daily life?**

### FAQ

**Why are these laws given while Israel is still in the wilderness?**

Answer: These laws are given in the wilderness to demonstrate God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, particularly concerning the Promised Land, despite Israel's recent rebellion and the judgment pronounced in [Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - Rebellion and Judgment at Kadesh-Barnea"). By providing future-oriented instructions, God was reassuring the new generation that they *would* indeed enter the land. It served as a blueprint for their worship and communal life once settled, emphasizing preparation and hope rather than despair. It also taught them that even in times of discipline, God's ultimate purposes for His people remain intact.

**What is the significance of "the land of your habitations"?**

Answer: The phrase "the land of your habitations" (Hebrew: *'eretz moshvoteichem*) signifies a place of permanent, settled dwelling, security, and rest. It stands in stark contrast to Israel's nomadic, temporary existence in the wilderness. This emphasizes God's intention to provide His people with a stable home where they could establish families, cultivate the land, and build a lasting community centered on His worship. It speaks to the fulfillment of the promise of a "rest" that God intended for His people, a place of peace and prosperity after their arduous journey, as detailed in [Deuteronomy 12:9-10](/deuteronomy/12-9 "Deuteronomy 12:9-10 - Rest in the Promised Land").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 15:2, with its declaration of a future "land of your habitations" as a divine gift, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Testament. The physical Promised Land, a place of rest and inheritance for Israel, ultimately foreshadows the greater, eternal inheritance and spiritual rest found in Christ. Just as God promised a land to a people still wandering, so too does God promise an eternal dwelling and an imperishable inheritance to believers who are currently sojourners in this world ([1 Peter 1:4](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - An Inheritance Kept in Heaven")). Jesus himself is our true "habitation" and "rest," fulfilling the longing for a permanent dwelling place that the physical land could only symbolize ([Hebrews 4:9-10](/hebrews/4-9 "Hebrews 4:9-10 - The Believer's Rest")). Through His perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice, Christ has secured for us not merely a patch of earthly ground, but a spiritual kingdom and a heavenly citizenship ([Philippians 3:20](/philippians/3-20 "Philippians 3:20 - Our Citizenship in Heaven")). The "children of Israel" who would inherit the land are now expanded to include all who are "in Christ," whether Jew or Gentile, becoming heirs according to the promise of God's grace ([Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Heirs According to the Promise")). Thus, Numbers 15:2 points forward to the ultimate gift and dwelling place provided by God in His Son, Jesus, where true and lasting "habitation" is found.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.