Numbers 5:5-10

Numbers 5:5-10

[5] And the LORD  spake  unto Moses,  saying,  [6] Speak  unto the children  of Israel,  When a man  or woman  shall commit  any sin  that men  commit,  to do a trespass  against the LORD,  and that person  be guilty;  [7] Then they shall confess  their sin  which they have done:  and he shall recompense  his trespass  with the principal  thereof, and add  unto it the fifth  part thereof, and give  it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.  [8] But if the man  have no kinsman  to recompense  the trespass  be recompensed  unto the LORD,  even to the priest;  beside the ram  of the atonement,  whereby an atonement shall be made  for him. [9] And every offering  of all the holy things  of the children  of Israel,  which they bring  unto the priest,  shall be his. [10] And every man's  hallowed things  shall be his: whatsoever any man  giveth  the priest,  it shall be his.

What does Numbers 5:5-10 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

To emphasize the importance of maintaining proper interpersonal relationships within the camp, Moses repeated the law concerning the restitution of and compensation for a trespass against one"s neighbor here (cf. Leviticus 5:14 to Leviticus 6:7). The expression "sins of mankind" ( Numbers 5:6) can refer to sins committed by a human being and to sins committed against a human being. [1] The context favors the latter option.
Added instructions covered another case. This was a person who could not fulfill his responsibilities because the person against whom he had committed the trespass, or that person"s near kinsman, had died or did not exist. In this case the guilty party had to make restitution and compensation to the priests ( Numbers 5:8).
Trespasses against one"s neighbor (cf. Leviticus 6:1-7) needed atonement because they constituted acts of "unfaithfulness" to God ( Numbers 5:6). The Israelites had to maintain proper horizontal relationships with their brethren to maintain a proper vertical relationship with Yahweh (cf. Matthew 5:23-24).
"The point is clear-wrongs committed against God"s people were considered wrongs committed against God himself." [2]