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.

Offerings for the Feast of Trumpets

1

"'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a holy convocation; do not do any kind of ordinary work; it is a day of blowing the shofar for you.

2

Prepare a burnt offering to make a fragrant aroma for ADONAI - one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs in their first year and without defect -

3

with their grain offering, consisting of fine flour mixed with olive oil - six quarts for the bull, four quarts for the ram,

4

and two quarts for each of the seven lambs -

5

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

6

This is to be in addition to the burnt offering for Rosh-Hodesh with its grain offering, the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to the rule for them; this will be a fragrant aroma, an offering made by fire to ADONAI.

Offerings for the Day of Atonement

7

"'On the tenth day of this seventh month you are to have a holy convocation. You are to deny yourselves, and you are not to do any kind of work;

8

but you are to present a burnt offering to ADONAI to make a fragrant aroma: one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs in their first year (they are to be without defect for you),

9

with their grain offering, fine flour mixed with olive oil, six quarts for the bull, four quarts for the one ram,

10

and two quarts for each of the seven lambs;

11

also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

Offerings for the Feast of Tabernacles (Day 1)

12

"'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you are to have a holy convocation. You are not to do any kind of ordinary work, and you are to observe a feast to ADONAI seven days.

13

You are to present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, bringing a fragrant aroma to ADONAI. It is to consist of thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year (they are to be without defect),

14

with their grain offering - fine flour mixed with olive oil, six quarts for each of the thirteen bulls, four quarts for each of the two rams,

15

and two quarts for each of the fourteen lambs;

16

also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.

Day Two of Tabernacles

17

"'On the second day you are to present twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year, without defect;

18

with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, in keeping with the rule;

19

also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and their drink offerings.

Day Three of Tabernacles

20

"'On the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year, without defect;

21

with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, in keeping with the rule;

22

also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.

Day Four of Tabernacles

23

"'On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year, without defect;

24

with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, in keeping with the rule;

25

also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.

Day Five of Tabernacles

26

"'On the fifth day nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year, without defect;

27

with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, in keeping with the rule;

28

also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.

Day Six of Tabernacles

29

"'On the sixth day eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year, without defect;

30

with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, in keeping with the rule;

31

also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.

Day Seven of Tabernacles

32

"'On the seventh day seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year, without defect;

33

with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams and lambs, according to their number, in keeping with the rule;

34

also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offerings.

Offerings for the Eighth Day Assembly

35

"'On the eighth day you are to have a festive assembly: you are not to do any kind of ordinary work;

36

but you are to present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, giving a fragrant aroma to ADONAI -one bull, one ram, seven male lambs in their first year, without defect;

37

with the grain and drink offerings for the bull, the ram and the lambs, according to their number, in keeping with the rule;

38

also one male goat as a sin offering; in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.

Summary and Command

39

"'You are to offer these to ADONAI at your designated times in addition to your vows and voluntary offerings -whether these are your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings or peace offerings.'"

40

Moshe told the people of Isra'el everything, just as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.

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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