Numbers 28:24

KJV

After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

KJV (with Strong's)

After this manner ye shall offer {H6213} daily {H3117}, throughout the seven {H7651} days {H3117}, the meat {H3899} of the sacrifice made by fire {H801}, of a sweet {H5207} savour {H7381} unto the LORD {H3068}: it shall be offered {H6213} beside the continual {H8548} burnt offering {H5930}, and his drink offering {H5262}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

After this manner ye shall offer daily, for seven days, the food of the offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah: it shall be offered besides the continual burnt-offering, and the drink-offering thereof.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 28:24 meticulously details the daily sacrificial requirements for the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, emphasizing that these specific festival offerings, characterized as a "sweet savour" to the Lord, were to be presented in addition to the established continual burnt offering and its accompanying drink offering. This verse underscores the meticulous nature of God's commands for Israelite worship, highlighting the divine expectation of consistent, abundant, and precisely executed devotion during sacred times.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 28:24 is situated within a lengthy section (Numbers 28-29) that provides a comprehensive and highly detailed calendar of offerings for various occasions throughout the Israelite year. This includes daily, Sabbath, New Moon, and annual festival sacrifices. Specifically, verses 16-25 focus on the Passover and the subsequent seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. Having established the general requirements for the festival in previous verses (e.g., the number of bulls, rams, and lambs), verse 24 serves as a crucial reiteration, stressing the *daily* nature of these special offerings throughout the festival and clarifying their relationship to the already established perpetual sacrifices. It acts as a summary instruction for the daily obligation during this particular feast, ensuring no day was overlooked and no offering was omitted.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The instructions in Numbers 28 were given to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land, establishing the liturgical framework for their national worship. Sacrifices were central to ancient Near Eastern religions, but Israel's system was unique, divinely ordained, and designed to foster holiness, atonement, and communion with Yahweh. The "Feast of Unleavened Bread" (חַג הַמַּצּוֹת, _Chag HaMatzot_) immediately followed Passover (Pesach), commemorating Israel's hasty departure from Egypt, where they had no time for bread to rise. The seven days of eating unleavened bread symbolized purity, separation from the "leaven" of sin, and the remembrance of God's deliverance. The emphasis on "daily" offerings during this period highlighted the ongoing need for atonement and devotion, even within a celebratory festival, reinforcing the covenant relationship between God and His people.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. It exemplifies **Divine Specificity and Sovereignty in Worship**, demonstrating God's absolute authority over how He is to be approached and worshipped. The meticulous details leave no room for human improvisation, emphasizing that true worship is obedient worship. Furthermore, the command for offerings "daily, throughout the seven days," alongside the "continual burnt offering," underscores the theme of **Consistent and Abundant Devotion**. Worship was not an occasional event but a perpetual, pervasive aspect of Israelite life, requiring significant resources and commitment. Finally, the phrase "of a sweet savour unto the LORD" highlights the theme of **Acceptable Sacrifice and Divine Favor**. When offered according to God's precise instructions, these sacrifices were pleasing to Him, symbolizing His acceptance of the worshipper and the atonement provided, a concept found throughout [Leviticus](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus 1 - The Burnt Offering"). This foreshadows the ultimate, perfect sacrifice that would truly bring divine favor and lasting atonement, as seen in [Hebrews 9](/hebrews/9 "Hebrews 9 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sweet Savour (Hebrew, _reah nihoah_):** This phrase, literally meaning "a soothing aroma" or "a restful scent," is frequently used in the Old Testament (especially in Leviticus and Numbers) to describe a sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. It signifies that the offering, when presented according to divine command and with the right heart, brings satisfaction to the LORD, indicating His approval and the efficacy of the atonement or worship. It is not that God literally smells the burning meat, but rather that the act of obedient sacrifice, representing the worshipper's devotion and the shedding of blood for sin, is spiritually pleasing to Him.
* **Continual Burnt Offering (Hebrew, _olat hatamid_):** This refers to the daily morning and evening burnt offering that was a foundational element of Israelite worship, commanded in [Exodus 29:38-42](/exodus/29-38 "Exodus 29:38-42 - The Daily Burnt Offering"). It was a perpetual sacrifice, symbolizing the constant need for atonement and the ongoing communion between God and His people. Numbers 28:24 specifies that the festival offerings were *in addition to* this established daily ritual, underscoring the extraordinary nature and increased demands of festival worship.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days,"**: This clause emphasizes the consistent and repetitive nature of the special festival offerings. "After this manner" refers to the specific types and quantities of animals detailed in the preceding verses (Numbers 28:19-23) for the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The phrase "daily, throughout the seven days" leaves no ambiguity; the full complement of festival sacrifices was not a one-time event but a continuous obligation for the entire duration of the feast. This highlights the intensity and commitment required for festival worship.
* **"the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:"**: This part identifies the nature and purpose of the offering. "The meat of the sacrifice made by fire" refers to the burnt offerings (עֹלָה, _olah_), where the entire animal (or specific parts) was consumed by fire on the altar, ascending as a gift to God. The crucial descriptor "of a sweet savour unto the LORD" signifies divine acceptance. It means that these offerings, when presented precisely as commanded, were pleasing and acceptable to God, securing His favor and acknowledging the worshipper's obedience and the atonement provided.
* **"it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering."**: This final clause clarifies the relationship between the special festival sacrifices and the regular daily worship. The festival offerings were not to replace but to *supplement* the "continual burnt offering" (the daily morning and evening sacrifice) and its accompanying "drink offering" (usually wine poured out on the altar). This demonstrates the principle of cumulative worship, where special occasions called for additional devotion and sacrifice, layered upon the foundational daily rituals. It underscores the abundance of offerings expected during holy convocations.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Numbers 28:24 is **Emphasis** through detailed repetition and specification. The phrase "daily, throughout the seven days" reiterates the temporal requirement, ensuring no day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is missed. The meticulous enumeration of sacrifices throughout Numbers 28-29, of which this verse is a part, uses **Legal Language** and **Prescriptive Instruction** to leave no room for misinterpretation regarding God's commands. The phrase "sweet savour unto the LORD" functions as **Symbolism**, representing divine acceptance and pleasure in obedient worship, a recurring motif that links various sacrificial laws. The layering of festival offerings "beside the continual burnt offering" employs **Accumulation**, illustrating the heightened spiritual demands and increased acts of devotion during sacred times.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 28:24 provides a window into the theological heart of Old Covenant worship, emphasizing God's demand for precise, consistent, and abundant devotion. The "sweet savour" signifies that God is not merely appeased by sacrifice, but delighted in the obedience and faith it represents. The distinction between the "continual burnt offering" and the additional festival sacrifices reveals a theology of layered devotion: a baseline of daily communion, augmented by intensified worship during special seasons. This meticulousness underscores God's holiness and the seriousness of approaching Him, while simultaneously revealing His gracious provision for atonement and communion through prescribed means. The entire system points to the need for a perfect sacrifice that would truly satisfy God's righteous demands and provide lasting access to His presence.

* [Leviticus 1:9](/leviticus/1-9 "Leviticus 1:9 - The Burnt Offering as a Sweet Aroma")
* [Exodus 29:42](/exodus/29-42 "Exodus 29:42 - The Continual Burnt Offering")
* [Malachi 1:10-11](/malachi/1-10 "Malachi 1:10-11 - Unacceptable Offerings and Future Worship")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant are no longer required for believers today, Numbers 28:24 offers profound principles for contemporary Christian living and worship. The emphasis on "daily" and "continual" devotion challenges us to cultivate a consistent, rather than sporadic, relationship with God. Our spiritual lives should not be limited to weekly services but should permeate every day through prayer, study of God's Word, and obedience. The "sweet savour" concept reminds us that God delights in worship offered with a sincere heart, not merely out of ritual. It calls us to offer our "spiritual sacrifices" (1 Peter 2:5) – our lives, our praise, our resources, and our obedience – with intentionality, excellence, and a desire to please Him. Just as the Israelites layered their offerings, we are called to deepen our devotion during special seasons of prayer, fasting, or corporate worship, building upon our foundational daily walk with Christ. This verse ultimately invites us to consider the quality and consistency of our own "offerings" to the Lord, knowing that our ultimate acceptance is found not in our works, but in the perfect sacrifice of Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways can I cultivate a more "daily" and "continual" devotion to God in my personal life?**
* **What does it mean for my worship and service to be a "sweet savour" to the Lord today? Am I offering my best?**
* **How do the specific instructions for Old Testament worship inform my understanding of God's character and His desire for intentionality in approaching Him?**

### FAQ

**What was the "continual burnt offering," and why was it distinct from the festival offerings?**

Answer: The "continual burnt offering" (עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד, _olat hatamid_) was a daily sacrifice of one lamb in the morning and one in the evening, commanded in [Exodus 29:38-42](/exodus/29-38 "Exodus 29:38-42 - The Daily Burnt Offering"). It was foundational to Israelite worship, symbolizing the constant need for atonement and the ongoing communion between God and His people. It was distinct from festival offerings because it was a perpetual, non-negotiable daily ritual, whereas festival offerings were *additional* sacrifices specifically prescribed for special holy days or seasons like the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Numbers 28:24 clarifies that these festival offerings were to be presented *beside* (in addition to) the continual burnt offering, highlighting the cumulative nature of worship during sacred times.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 28:24, with its emphasis on daily, continual, and "sweet savour" offerings, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The endless cycle of animal sacrifices, though divinely commanded and temporarily effective under the Old Covenant, could never truly take away sin or bring lasting perfection ([Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1 "Hebrews 10:1-4 - The Inadequacy of Animal Sacrifices")). They were shadows pointing to the reality to come. Jesus Christ is the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who offered Himself "once for all" ([Hebrews 7:27](/hebrews/7-27 "Hebrews 7:27 - Christ's Single Sacrifice")), a perfect, unblemished sacrifice that was supremely "of a sweet savour" to God, perfectly pleasing and fully efficacious for the atonement of sins ([Ephesians 5:2](/ephesians/5-2 "Ephesians 5:2 - Christ's Sacrificial Love")). His single offering on the cross fulfilled every requirement of the Old Testament sacrificial system, rendering it obsolete ([Hebrews 8:13](/hebrews/8-13 "Hebrews 8:13 - The New Covenant Makes the First Obsolete")). Through Christ, believers are now invited to offer "spiritual sacrifices" ([1 Peter 2:5](/1_peter/2-5 "1 Peter 2:5 - Living Stones and Spiritual Sacrifices")) of praise, thanksgiving, and lives lived in obedience, which are acceptable to God because they are presented through Him ([Hebrews 13:15-16](/hebrews/13-15 "Hebrews 13:15-16 - Sacrifices Pleasing to God")). The "continual burnt offering" is now replaced by the perpetual intercession of Christ at the right hand of God ([Romans 8:34](/romans/8-34 "Romans 8:34 - Christ's Intercession")), and our daily walk of faith, sustained by His grace, becomes our ongoing act of worship.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.