(The Lord speaking is red text)
And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, [and] fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:
"'On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year, without defect;
On the fourth day you are to present ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,
And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;
And on the fourth{H7243} day{H3117} ten{H6235} bullocks{H6499}, two{H8147} rams{H352}, and fourteen{H702}{H6240} lambs{H3532} of the first{H1121} year{H8141} without blemish{H8549}:
1. **Themes:**
- **Sacrifice and Atonement:** The verse is part of the instructions for the offerings during the Festival of Tabernacles (Sukkot), emphasizing the importance of animal sacrifices as a means of atonement and worship in ancient Israelite religion.
- **Divine Ordinance:** The specificity of the offerings (ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs) reflects the detailed instructions given by God, highlighting the theme of adherence to divine commandments.
- **Community and Worship:** The offerings were to be made by the community as a whole, underscoring the communal aspect of worship and the collective responsibility in the religious life of Israel.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Festival of Tabernacles:** Numbers 29:23 is set within the context of the Festival of Tabernacles, a seven-day festival that occurs in the fall, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month (Tishrei) in the Jewish calendar. This festival commemorates the wandering in the wilderness and the harvest, and it is one of the three pilgrimage festivals when Israelites were to gather in Jerusalem.
- **Post-Exodus Period:** The book of Numbers is set after the Exodus from Egypt and before the entrance into the Promised Land. It details the experiences of the Israelites in the wilderness, including the census, laws, and regulations for worship and religious observances.
- **Priestly Code:** The instructions for sacrifices in Numbers are part of the Priestly Code, a set of laws and rituals concerned with priestly duties and worship practices. These codes were likely compiled during or after the Babylonian Exile (6th century BCE) when the priests were redefining Jewish identity and religious practice in the absence of a temple.
- **Cultic Calendar:** The verse is part of a larger section outlining the cultic calendar, which prescribes various offerings for different festivals and holy days throughout the year. This system of offerings was integral to maintaining the relationship between God and the Israelite community.
In summary, Numbers 29:23 reflects the themes of sacrifice, adherence to divine commandments, and communal worship within the historical context of the Festival of Tabernacles during the post-Exodus wilderness period, as part of the Priestly Code's cultic regulations.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)