Numbers 28

Numbers 28:1-8

III. REVIEW AND ADDITIONS TO THE LAW **(Numbers 28; Numbers 29; Numbers 30)

A. THE DAILY OFFERINGS vv. 1-8 TEXT**

Numbers 28:1. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2. Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savor unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season. 3. And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the Lord; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering. 4. The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even; 5. And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil. 6. It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savor, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord. 7. And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the Lord for a drink offering. 8. And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord.

PARAPHRASE

Numbers 28:1. Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying, 2. Command the children of Israel and say to them, -You shall be careful to present my offering, the provision of my sacrifices made with fire as a sweet aroma to me, when it is the proper time.-’ 3. And you shall say to them, -This is the fire offering which you shall offer to the Lord: two lambs, yearlings without defect, day by day as a continual burnt offering. 4. You shall offer the one lamb in the morning and the other lamb at evening; 5. also, a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with one-fourth of a hin of beaten oil. 6. It is a continual burnt offering which was ordained at Mount Sinai as a sweet aroma, a sacrifice made by fire to the Lord.-’ And its drink offering shall be one-fourth of a hin for each lamb; in the holy place you shall pour out the strong drink to the Lord for a drink offering. 8. You shall offer the other lamb at evening: just as the meal offering of the morning, and as its drink offering, you shall offer it, a sacrifice by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.-'

COMMENTARY

In summarizing the purpose of the two Chapter s next before us, KD suggests: When Israel was prepared for the conquest of the promised land by the fresh numbering and mustering of its men, and by the appointment of Joshua as commander, its relation to the Lord was regulated by a law which determined the sacrifices through which it was to maintain its fellowship with its God from day to day and serve Him as His people, (p. 216). The offerings and sacrifices detailed were periodical and public, beginning appropriately with the daily morning and evening burnt offerings which had been instituted at Sinai when the altar was dedicated. Other sacrifices follow in logical order: the Sabbath offerings, the New Moon offerings, offerings for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for the Feast of Weeks, for the Feast of Trumpets, for the Day of Atonement and for the Feast of the Tabernacles.

The importance of these offerings is seen in their significance. The daily burnt-offering is designed to sanctify the life, both body and soul and spirit, to God Himself. The sacrifices on the feast days were to reinforce this sanctification. The sacrifices of the daily ritual were doubled on the Sabbath; on the other feast days it was increased by a burnt offering of oxen, rams, and yearling lambs, always preceded by a sin offering. Both the Sabbath and the feast days were thus elevated high above ordinary days. When KJ translates Shecar as strong wine, it is exceptional. The usual meaning exempts wine and includes other intoxicants (see Leviticus 10:9). But the matter is by no means certain, since the Targums give its meaning as old wine since the drink offering in every other instance listed was to be of wine. PC proposes that the difficulty of obtaining wine in the wilderness might well account for this exceptional provision, so that any fermented drink might be used in the daily ritual. All sources agree that the provision was temporary only, and that nothing but wine was used after the settlement in Canaan.

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

What primary purpose was served by all of the sacrifices and offerings of the Israelites?

Show the significance of each separate type of offering.

How and why were the daily offerings different from those of special days?

Discuss the use of strong wine in the drink offering.

Numbers 28:9-10

B. OFFERINGS ON THE SABBATH vv. 9, 10 TEXT

Numbers 28:9. And on the sabbath day the two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: 10. This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

PARAPHRASE

Numbers 28:9. On the Sabbath day two lambs, yearlings without defects, and two-tenths of a measure of flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering. 10. This is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.

COMMENTARY

On the sabbath, provisions for the offerings were doubled. The inference of the instructions in Numbers 28:9-10 is that the two lambs offered are in addition to the daily quota, and that they would follow the daily offering. The order appears here for the first time. The literal meaning of the instructions in Numbers 28:10 is, the sabbath burnt offering for its sabbath. The importance of the seventh day was underscored.

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

Why should the offerings given on the Sabbath be different in any way from those of the daily offerings?

Compute the total number of lambs which would be offered during one year, combining the daily and Sabbath offerings.

Numbers 28:11-15

C. OFFERINGS FOR THE NEW MOON vv. 11-15 TEXT

Numbers 28:11. And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the Lord; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot; 12. And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram; 13. And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savor, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord. 14. And their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of a hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of a hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year. 15. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the Lord shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

PARAPHRASE

Numbers 28:11. At the beginning of each of your months you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord: two young bulls, one ram, seven yearling lambs without defect, 12. and three-tenths of a measure of flour as a meal offering, mixed with oil, for one bull; and two tenths of a measure of flour as a meal offering mixed with oil, for one ram: 13. and one-tenth of a measure of flour, mixed with oil, as a meal offering for every lamb, as a burnt offering of a sweet aroma, an offering by fire to the Lord. 14. And their drink offerings shall be one-half hin of wine for a bull, and one-third of a hin for a ram, and one-fourth hin for a lamb: this is the burnt offering of each month throughout the months of the year. 15. Also one male goat for a sin offering to the Lord; it shall be offered besides the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.

COMMENTARY

The new moon inaugurated each month, and the event was celebrated by another special offering. Rather than the lambs alone, which had been specified for the previous offerings, on this occasion the animals were bulls and rams, in addition to seven supplementary lambs. Then was added a shaggy goat, as at Leviticus 4:23, although in fact the goat may have been first in the sequence of the offering (see Exodus 29:10-14). As instituted, the new moon was not a feast day; however, practices associated with such days began to attach to the new moon: it was a time used for presenting yearly thank-offerings (1 Samuel 20:6; 1 Samuel 20:29); common trading was stopped (Amos 8:5); the people came to the prophets for teaching (2 Kings 4:23); and, the prophets themselves speak of the time as festive (Isaiah 1:13; Hosea 2:13; Ezekiel 46:1).

The true purpose of the day was to bring in remembrance before God those sins committed during the month for which pardon had not been received, and to renew their life-covenant with the Lord through the burnt offering. Blowing the silver trumpets proclaimed the congregation of the people (see Numbers 10:10) to bring the prayers of the people unto the Lord through the sacrifices, and to invoke His merciful pardon and a renewal of His grace. Thus the people were regularly and often reminded that their very lives were spared by such grace, and that to take such kindness for granted would be a mark of impiety and ingratitude.

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

Examine the Hebrew calendar in a good Bible dictionary and see how the months and the new moons coincided.

Compute the number of animals which would be used in the monthly sacrifices over a period of one year, using twelve months as a basis.

What practices became attached to the offerings of the new moon? Were they commanded?

Exactly what was the Lord proposing to accomplish through the establishment of the monthly offerings?

Numbers 28:16-25

**D. OFFERINGS FOR THE PASSOVER AND UNLEAVENED BREAD vv. 16-25

TEXT**

Numbers 28:16. And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the Lord. 17. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. 18. In the first day shall be a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein: 19. But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the Lord; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish. 20. And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram; 21. A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 22. And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you. 23. Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. 24. After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. 25. And on the seventh day ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.

PARAPHRASE

Numbers 28:16. And on the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the Lord. 17. And on the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days. 18. There shall be a holy convocation on the first day; you shall do no hard work on it. 19. And you shall offer a sacrifice by fire for a burnt offering to the Lord: two young bulls, and one ram, and seven lambs one year old, having no defects. 20. And their meal offering shall be of flour mixed with oil: three tenths of a measure for a bull, and two-tenths of a measure for a ram; 21. one-tenth of a measure you shall offer for a lamb, for each of the seven lambs; 22. and one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you. 23. You shall offer these in addition to the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. 24. And this is the procedure for the daily offering throughout the seven days, the provision of the sacrifice by fire, of a sweet aroma to the Lord: it shall be offered with its drink offering, in addition to the continual offering. 25. And on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no hard work.

COMMENTARY

The Feast of the Passover was the first of the three great annual feasts in Israel, commemorating that great occasion when the Lord visited death upon the oppressing Egyptians-’ homes while sparing Israel’s firstborn (see Exodus 11; Exodus 12:1-14). Historically, it was by far the most significant feast in the calendar, bringing back rich memories to those who had participated, and recalling a sacred past to those who had not. The people needed no other evidence of God’s favor, although there were many such incidents; but the circumstances of Jehovah’s visit upon a slave people in bringing them triumphantly out of a land of slavery and oppression called the attention of the world to their high estate. This general had caused terror in the heart of Balak, and he prefaced his plea to Balaam by alluding to Israel’s recent escape, (Numbers 22:11), and the full account was still being cited when the Israelites approached Jericho forty years later when Rahab referred to the hand of God in the nation’s destiny, (Joshua 2:9). So, two weeks after each year began, the memorable event was celebrated. In the proper sense, the observance was not a feast, but the conclusion of a fast, ending in the holy evening meal.

Continuing directly from the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread obtained for seven days. Because the Israelites left Egypt in haste, it was not sensible to wait for a leavening agent to produce the favored light bread; consequently, all leavening was removed from the house. For the following seven days, Israel continued to eat unleavened bread, since there would have been no time to set the bread while on the move from Egypt. The sacrifices for the seven days of this feast were the same as those for each new moon, from the 15th until the 21st days of Abib. There was no special sacrifice on the Passover itself.

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

Name the three great feasts which the Israelites observed annually.

Give the essential meaning of the passover.

Why should the Passover hold such fascinating significance for Israel?

What relationship was there between the historical Passover and the use of unleavened bread?

Why did the Israelites use unleavened bread while eating the Passover lamb?

Give the significance of the seven-day period for the feast of Unleavened Bread.

Numbers 28:26-31

E. OFFERINGS FOR THE FIRST FRUITS vv. 26-31 TEXT

Numbers 28:26. Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the Lord, after your weeks be out, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: 27. But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savor unto the Lord; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year; 28. And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram, 29. A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs; 30. And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you. 31. Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish,) and their drink offerings.

PARAPHRASE

Numbers 28:26. Also on the day of the firstfruits, when you bring a new meal offering to the Lord, during your feast of weeks, you shall have a holy convocation: you shall do no hard work. 27, And you shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet aroma to the Lord: two young bulls, one ram, seven yearling lambs; 28. and their meal offering of flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of a measure for one bull, two-tenths of a measure for one ram, 29. one-tenth of a measure for one lamb, for each of the seven lambs; 30. and one male goat, to make an atonement for you. 31. You shall offer them in addition to the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and you shall present them with their drink offerings; they shall be without defect.

COMMENTARY

The feast described in this section is variously called the Feast of Weeks, the Harvest Feast, the Feast of the First Fruits, and, later, Pentecost. The same offerings were designated as for the previous two feasts. Two special provisions are stipulated: there is to be a congregation, or holy convocation of the people; and, the people are to avoid hard work.

The date of the feast was seven weeks after the Passover, on the fiftieth day. From this fact was derived the last name, Pentecost. In the growing season, this placed the Feast at the time of the wheat harvest. The people were asked to express their gratitude to God in a freewill offering at the time, as they began to harvest their grain (Deuteronomy 16:10); the offering was to reflect the blessings they had first received from God, with each individual male appearing before the Lord with such a gift as he was able (Deuteronomy 16:17).

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

By what other names is the Feast of Weeks known?

Explain how each of the different names for this feast has its own significance.

At what time of year was the Feast of Weeks to be observed?

What product was being harvested at this time?

What determined the value or amount of the freewill offering given at the feast?