Numbers28

Numbers chapter 28 details the Lord's commands to Moses regarding the various offerings to be presented by the children of Israel. It outlines the daily continual burnt offering, as well as additional sacrifices for the Sabbath days and the beginnings of each month. The chapter also specifies the offerings required for the annual feasts of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Firstfruits.
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The Law of Communal Offerings

1
Then the LORD said to Moses,
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“Command the Israelites and say to them: See that you present to Me at its appointed time the food for My offerings by fire, as a pleasing aroma to Me. ​

The Daily Continual Burnt Offering

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And tell them that this is the offering made by fire you are to present to the LORD as a regular burnt offering each day: two unblemished year-old male lambs. ​
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Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight,
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along with a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with a quarter hin of oil from pressed olives. ​
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This is a regular burnt offering established at Mount Sinai as a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.
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The drink offering accompanying each lamb shall be a quarter hin. Pour out the offering of fermented drink to the LORD in the sanctuary area. ​
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And offer the second lamb at twilight, with the same grain offering and drink offering as in the morning. It is an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

The Sabbath Offering

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On the Sabbath day, present two unblemished year-old male lambs, accompanied by a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, as well as a drink offering. ​
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This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

The New Moon Offering

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At the beginning of every month, you are to present to the LORD a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished, ​
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along with three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering with each bull, two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering with the ram,
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and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering with each lamb. This is a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.
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Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine with each bull, a third of a hin with the ram, and a quarter hin with each lamb. This is the monthly burnt offering to be made at each new moon throughout the year.
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In addition to the regular burnt offering with its drink offering, one male goat is to be presented to the LORD as a sin offering. ​

Passover and Unleavened Bread Offerings

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The fourteenth day of the first month is the LORD’s Passover. ​
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On the fifteenth day of this month, there shall be a feast; for seven days unleavened bread is to be eaten.
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On the first day there is to be a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work. ​
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Present to the LORD an offering made by fire, a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished.
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The grain offering shall consist of fine flour mixed with oil; offer three-tenths of an ephah with each bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram,
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and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven lambs.
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Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. ​
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You are to present these in addition to the regular morning burnt offering. ​
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Offer the same food each day for seven days as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. It is to be offered with its drink offering and the regular burnt offering.
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On the seventh day you shall hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work.

The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) Offering

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On the day of firstfruits, when you present an offering of new grain to the LORD during the Feast of Weeks, you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work. ​
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Present a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old as a pleasing aroma to the LORD,
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together with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil—three-tenths of an ephah with each bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram,
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and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven lambs.
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Include one male goat to make atonement for you.
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Offer them with their drink offerings in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering. The animals must be unblemished. ​

Study Notes for Numbers 28

Verse 2

This introduction emphasizes that the sacrifices belong to God and are essential for maintaining the covenant relationship. The phrase 'sweet savour' denotes an offering acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.

Verse 3

The 'continual burnt offering' (Hebrew: *olat tamid*) was the foundational sacrifice, offered twice daily, symbolizing Israel's perpetual dedication and atonement before God.

Verse 5

The 'tenth part of an ephah' (often called a 'tenth deal') was the standard measurement for the grain offering (*minchah*) that accompanied the daily animal sacrifice.

Verse 7

Drink offerings (usually wine) were poured out in the Holy Place alongside the burnt offering. This addition completed the comprehensive nature of the daily sacrifice.

Verse 9

The Sabbath required double the daily burnt offering. This ensured that rest from physical labor did not mean a reduction in communal worship.

Verse 11

The New Moon festival (*Rosh Chodesh*) marked the beginning of each month and was a significant national observance, requiring a substantial increase in animal sacrifices.

Verse 15

A specific sin offering (a male goat) was required monthly, demonstrating the need for regular expiation of communal sin, even during times of festive worship.

Verse 16

This section begins the detailed schedule for the annual pilgrimage festivals, starting with Passover (on the 14th) and the subsequent Feast of Unleavened Bread (beginning on the 15th).

Verse 18

'Holy convocation' designated a day of mandatory assembly and required rest, where only necessary food preparation was permitted (Exod. 12:16).

Verse 22

The sin offering was necessary to purify the people and the sanctuary, ensuring that the entire seven-day feast was celebrated in a state of ritual cleanliness and atonement.

Verse 23

This verse clarifies a recurring principle: all festival sacrifices were *in addition to* (not replacements for) the regular daily continual burnt offering.

Verse 26

The Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), occurring seven weeks after Passover, celebrated the wheat harvest and the offering of new grain, hence its designation as the 'day of the firstfruits.'

Verse 31

The requirement that all animals be 'without blemish' applied universally to sacrifices, symbolizing the need for perfection and purity in approaching a holy God.

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