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.

The Law of Communal Offerings

1
ADONAI said to Moshe,
2
"Give an order to the people of Isra'el. Tell them, 'You are to take care to offer me at the proper time the food presented to me as offerings made by fire, providing a fragrant aroma for me.' ​

The Daily Continual Burnt Offering

3
Tell them, 'This is the offering made by fire that you are to bring to ADONAI: male lambs in their first year and without defect, two daily as a regular burnt offering. ​
4
Offer the one lamb in the morning and the other lamb at dusk,
5
along with two quarts of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with one quart of oil from pressed olives. ​
6
It is the regular burnt offering, the same as was offered on Mount Sinai to give a fragrant aroma, an offering made by fire for ADONAI.
7
Its drink offering is to be one-quarter hin for one lamb; in the Holy Place you are to pour out a drink offering of intoxicating liquor to ADONAI. ​
8
The other lamb you are to present at dusk; present it with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering as in the morning; it is an offering made by fire, with a fragrant aroma for ADONAI.

The Sabbath Offering

9
"'On Shabbat offer two male lambs in their first year and without defect, with one gallon of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, and its drink offering. ​
10
This is the burnt offering for every Shabbat, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

The New Moon Offering

11
"'At each Rosh-Hodesh of yours, you are to present a burnt offering to ADONAI consisting of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs in their first year and without defect; ​
12
with six quarts of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for the one ram;
13
and two quarts of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for each lamb. This will be the burnt offering giving a fragrant aroma, an offering made by fire for ADONAI.
14
Their drink offerings will be two quarts of wine for a bull, one-and-one-third quarts for the ram, and one quart for each lamb. This is the burnt offering for every Rosh-Hodesh throughout the months of the year.
15
Also a male goat is to be offered as a sin offering to ADONAI, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. ​

Passover and Unleavened Bread Offerings

16
"'In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, is ADONAI's Pesach. ​
17
On the fifteenth day of the month is to be a feast. Matzah is to be eaten for seven days.
18
The first day is to be a holy convocation: do not do any kind of ordinary work; ​
19
but present an offering made by fire, a burnt offering, to ADONAI, consisting of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs in their first year (they are to be without defect for you)
20
with their grain offering, fine flour mixed with olive oil. Offer six quarts for a bull, four quarts for the ram,
21
and two quarts for each of the seven lambs;
22
also a male goat as a sin offering, to make atonement for you. ​
23
You are to offer these in addition to the morning burnt offering, which is the regular burnt offering. ​
24
In this fashion you are to offer daily, for seven days, the food of the offering made by fire, making a fragrant aroma for ADONAI ; it is to be offered in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
25
On the seventh day you are to have a holy convocation; do not do any kind of ordinary work.

The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) Offering

26
"'On the day of the firstfruits, when you bring a new grain offering to ADONAI in your feast of Shavu'ot, you are to have a holy convocation; do not do any kind of ordinary work; ​
27
but present a burnt offering as a fragrant aroma for ADONAI, consisting of two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs in their first year,
28
and their grain offering - fine flour mixed with olive oil, six quarts for each bull, four quarts for the one ram,
29
and two quarts for each of the seven lambs -
30
plus a male goat to make atonement for you.
31
You are to offer these in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering (they are to be without defect for you), with their drink offerings. ​

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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