Numbers29

Numbers 29 meticulously details the specific sacrificial requirements for the holy convocations observed in the seventh month of the Israelite calendar. It outlines the burnt offerings, meat offerings, and sin offerings for the Feast of Trumpets, the solemn Day of Atonement, and the extensive eight-day Feast of Tabernacles. These instructions specify the precise number and type of animals to be offered to the LORD, in addition to the continual daily sacrifices.

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Offerings for the Feast of Trumpets

1

“On the first day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you must not do any regular work. This will be a day for you to sound the trumpets.

2

As a pleasing aroma to the LORD, you are to present a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

3

together with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil—three-tenths of an ephah with the bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram,

4

and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven male lambs.

5

Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you.

6

These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their prescribed grain offerings and drink offerings. They are a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.

Offerings for the Day of Atonement

7

On the tenth day of this seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you shall humble yourselves; you must not do any work.

8

Present as a pleasing aroma to the LORD a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

9

together with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil—three-tenths of an ephah with the bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram,

10

and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven lambs.

11

Include one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering of atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offerings.

Offerings for the Feast of Tabernacles (Day 1)

12

On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work, and you shall observe a feast to the LORD for seven days.

13

As a pleasing aroma to the LORD, you are to present an offering made by fire, a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

14

along with the grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil with each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths of an ephah with each of the two rams,

15

and a tenth of an ephah with each of the fourteen lambs.

16

Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

Day Two of Tabernacles

17

On the second day you are to present twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

18

along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.

19

Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

Day Three of Tabernacles

20

On the third day you are to present eleven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

21

along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.

22

Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

Day Four of Tabernacles

23

On the fourth day you are to present ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

24

along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.

25

Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

Day Five of Tabernacles

26

On the fifth day you are to present nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

27

along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.

28

Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

Day Six of Tabernacles

29

On the sixth day you are to present eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

30

along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.

31

Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

Day Seven of Tabernacles

32

On the seventh day you are to present seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

33

along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.

34

Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

Offerings for the Eighth Day Assembly

35

On the eighth day you are to hold a solemn assembly; you must not do any regular work.

36

As a pleasing aroma to the LORD, you are to present an offering made by fire, a burnt offering of one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

37

along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.

38

Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

Summary and Command

39

You are to present these offerings to the LORD at your appointed times, in addition to your vow and freewill offerings, whether burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, or peace offerings.”

40

So Moses spoke all this to the Israelites just as the LORD had commanded him.

Study Notes for Numbers 29

Verse 1

This day (Yom Teruah, or Rosh Hashanah in later tradition) marked the sacred new year and the start of the most holy month, initiating a period of ten days leading up to the Day of Atonement. The sounding of the trumpet (shofar) served as a call to spiritual preparation.

Verse 5

The required sin offering ensured the community was purified before entering the high holy days, demonstrating the necessity of communal atonement even during celebratory feasts.

Verse 6

These special festival offerings were strictly *in addition to* the perpetual daily offering and the monthly new moon offering, emphasizing the extreme sanctity and importance of this day.

Verse 7

This is the only fast day commanded in the Torah (‘afflict your souls’), focusing on national repentance and complete cessation of labor to secure God's forgiveness for the entire community.

Verse 11

This communal sin offering supplemented the elaborate atonement rites performed by the High Priest described in Leviticus 16, ensuring comprehensive purification for the nation.

Verse 12

Sukkot (Feast of Booths) was a joyous seven-day harvest festival, celebrating God’s provision and commemorating Israel’s forty years of dwelling in temporary shelters during the wilderness wanderings.

Verse 13

The initial offering of thirteen bullocks is the highest number of sacrifices for any single day in the Israelite calendar. The total of 70 bullocks sacrificed over the seven days is traditionally interpreted as representing the 70 nations of the world.

Verse 17

Throughout the seven days of Sukkot, the number of rams and lambs remains constant, but the number of bullocks decreases daily by one (from 13 down to 7), establishing a unique sacrificial pattern.

Verse 35

Shemini Atzeret ('The Eighth Day Assembly') was a separate, solemn conclusion to the month’s festivities, serving as a final, concentrated time of communion between God and Israel after the celebrations of Sukkot.

Verse 39

This verse clarifies that the festival offerings detailed in chapters 28 and 29 are mandatory obligations (set feasts) and must be offered *beside* (in addition to) any voluntary offerings made by individuals.

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