Numbers 29:17

KJV

And on the second day [ye shall offer] twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:

KJV (with Strong's)

And on the second {H8145} day {H3117} ye shall offer twelve {H8147}{H6240} young {H1121}{H1241} bullocks {H6499}, two {H8147} rams {H352}, fourteen {H702}{H6240} lambs {H3532} of the first {H1121} year {H8141} without spot {H8549}:

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

And on the second dayye shall offertwelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 29:17 meticulously outlines the specific sacrificial offerings mandated for the second day of the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). This verse, following the detailed instructions for the first day, specifies the offering of twelve young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year, all to be "without spot." It underscores the precision required in Israelite worship, reflecting God's holy character and the covenantal relationship maintained through prescribed atonement and communion.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 29:17 is situated within a lengthy section (Numbers 28-29) that provides a comprehensive calendar of annual feasts and their corresponding sacrificial requirements, serving as a liturgical appendix to the Mosaic Law. Specifically, Numbers 29 details the offerings for the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. The immediate context of verse 17 is the Feast of Tabernacles (Numbers 29:12-38), a seven-day celebration followed by an eighth-day assembly. This section meticulously lists the daily offerings, with a notable progression: the number of bullocks decreases by one each day, from thirteen on the first day (Numbers 29:13) to seven on the seventh day (Numbers 29:32), while the rams (two) and lambs (fourteen) remain constant. This systematic reduction in bullocks is unique to Sukkot and emphasizes a distinct liturgical rhythm within this joyous festival.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, was one of the three pilgrimage festivals in ancient Israel, requiring all Israelite males to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16). Celebrated in the autumn (late September/early October), it had a dual significance: it was a harvest festival, giving thanks for the ingathering of crops (Exodus 23:16), and a commemoration of God's faithful provision and protection during Israel's forty years of wandering in the wilderness, where they dwelt in temporary shelters or "booths" (Leviticus 23:42-43). The construction and dwelling in these temporary booths (sukkot) served as a tangible reminder of their nomadic past and God's dwelling among them. The elaborate sacrificial system, including the daily burnt offerings, peace offerings, and sin offerings, was central to maintaining ritual purity and covenant fidelity within this agricultural and historical remembrance.
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 29:17 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. First, it highlights **Meticulous Obedience and Divine Order** in worship. The precise numbers and types of animals, along with their blemish-free requirement, underscore that Israelite worship was not arbitrary but demanded exact adherence to God's revealed instructions, reflecting His absolute holiness and sovereignty. Second, it reinforces the theme of **Atonement and Consecration**. Each sacrifice, particularly the burnt offerings, served to atone for sin and consecrate the people and their worship, maintaining the covenant relationship between a holy God and His people. The requirement for animals "without spot" (Numbers 29:17) points to the necessity of ritual purity and perfection in approaching God, a standard consistently emphasized throughout the Mosaic Law, as seen in the foundational instructions for offerings in [Leviticus 1:3](/leviticus/1-3 "Leviticus 1:3 - Requirements for Burnt Offerings"). Finally, the entire sacrificial system, including these detailed offerings, serves as a profound **Anticipation of Christ's Perfect Sacrifice**. These repeated, animal sacrifices foreshadowed the ultimate, once-for-all atonement achieved by Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, as articulated in [Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Young Bullocks (Hebrew, _parim b'nei bakar_):** These were male bovines, specifically young, indicating vigor and value. Bullocks were among the most costly and significant sacrificial animals, often used for communal offerings, sin offerings for the whole congregation, or offerings for leaders. Their prominence in the Feast of Tabernacles offerings underscores the festival's importance and the magnitude of the nation's thanksgiving and atonement.
* **Rams (Hebrew, _eylim_):** Rams were also significant sacrificial animals, typically representing strength and often used in burnt offerings, peace offerings, and consecration ceremonies (e.g., for priests). Their consistent number (two daily) throughout the Feast of Tabernacles indicates their integral role in the daily ritual, perhaps symbolizing a steady stream of dedication and communion.
* **Without Spot (Hebrew, _tamim_):** This critical term translates to "complete," "sound," "whole," or "perfect." For sacrificial animals, it meant being free from any physical blemish, disease, or defect. This physical perfection was not merely aesthetic; it symbolized the moral and spiritual purity required for an offering to be acceptable to a holy God. It pointed to the ideal of wholeness and integrity in worship and, prophetically, to the flawless nature of the ultimate Messiah.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And on the second day":** This phrase immediately places the verse within the sequential progression of the Feast of Tabernacles. The daily enumeration of offerings highlights the continuous nature of worship and the sustained commitment required throughout the week-long festival, emphasizing that each day had its unique, divinely appointed ritual.
* **"[ye shall offer] twelve young bullocks":** The number twelve is significant. While the first day required thirteen bullocks, the second day begins the daily decrease, offering twelve. This number, often symbolic of Israel's twelve tribes, suggests a comprehensive offering on behalf of the entire nation, reinforcing the communal aspect of the festival and the unity of the people in their worship and atonement.
* **"two rams":** The offering of two rams remains constant throughout the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles. This consistency, unlike the decreasing bullocks, might signify a foundational or unchanging element of the daily offering, perhaps representing the steadfastness of the covenant or the continuous need for propitiation and dedication.
* **"fourteen lambs of the first year without spot":** The offering of fourteen lambs (twice seven, a number of completeness) also remains constant daily. Lambs of the first year were particularly valued for their purity and innocence, often associated with sin offerings and burnt offerings. The crucial addition "without spot" (_tamim_) emphasizes the absolute purity and perfection required of all sacrificial animals, signifying that only the unblemished was acceptable to a holy God, setting a standard for the integrity of the offering and the worshiper.

#### Literary Devices
The passage in Numbers 29, including verse 17, is characterized by several prominent literary devices. **Repetition** is a dominant feature, with the phrase "without spot" recurring for each type of animal and across various sacrificial contexts in the Pentateuch, underscoring the non-negotiable requirement for purity. The meticulous listing of numbers and types of animals across the days of the feast also employs **Enumeration** and **Precision**, which serve to emphasize the divine authority behind these commands and the absolute necessity of exact obedience. This detailed **Prescriptive Law** format leaves no room for ambiguity, highlighting God's orderliness and the seriousness with which He views worship. Furthermore, the selection of specific animals and their blemish-free status are rich in **Symbolism**, representing purity, atonement, and the transfer of sin, all pointing forward to the ultimate, perfect sacrifice. The unique daily decrease in bullocks during Sukkot also introduces a subtle **Numerical Progression**, which, while its exact theological meaning is debated, adds a distinct rhythmic element to the week's offerings.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 29:17, with its precise instructions for the second day of Sukkot, powerfully illustrates God's demand for holiness and the meticulous nature of His covenant relationship with Israel. The sheer volume and specific requirements of the offerings underscore the gravity of sin and the immense cost of atonement under the Old Covenant. This elaborate system was designed to impress upon the Israelites the holiness of God, their dependence on His provision, and the necessity of approaching Him on His terms. It teaches that true worship is not casual but requires intentionality, purity, and a recognition of God's absolute sovereignty. The "without spot" requirement, in particular, points to a divine standard of perfection that no human could meet, thereby highlighting the need for a perfect mediator and sacrifice.

* [Leviticus 23:36](/leviticus/23-36 "Leviticus 23:36 - Offerings for the Feast of Tabernacles")
* [Exodus 12:5](/exodus/12-5 "Exodus 12:5 - Requirements for the Passover Lamb")
* [Malachi 1:8](/malachi/1-8 "Malachi 1:8 - Unacceptable Sacrifices")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant are no longer required for believers in Christ, Numbers 29:17 remains deeply relevant, offering profound insights into the nature of worship and our relationship with God. This verse challenges us to consider the quality and intentionality of our own spiritual offerings. Just as God demanded the "without spot" and the "best" from Israel, so too does He deserve our utmost excellence in our worship, service, and daily lives. This means offering our time, talents, and resources not out of obligation, but with a spirit of reverence, gratitude, and wholehearted devotion, recognizing the immense cost of our redemption. The meticulousness of the ancient law should lead us to a deeper appreciation for the grace of the New Covenant, where Christ's perfect sacrifice has fulfilled all these requirements, enabling us to approach God with confidence, yet still with awe and respect for His holiness. Our "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1) is now our entire life, lived in obedience and love, reflecting the transformative power of the Gospel.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail of the Old Testament sacrifices, like those in Numbers 29:17, deepen your appreciation for God's holiness and the seriousness of sin?**
* **In what ways can we, as New Covenant believers, apply the principle of offering our "best" and being "without spot" in our contemporary worship and daily walk with God?**
* **Considering the shift from animal sacrifices to a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1), what does it mean practically for your life to be an acceptable offering to God?**
* **How does understanding the Old Testament sacrificial system enhance your understanding and gratitude for the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross?**

### FAQ

**Why did the number of bullocks decrease daily during the Feast of Tabernacles?**

Answer: The daily decrease in the number of bullocks offered during the Feast of Tabernacles (from thirteen on the first day to seven on the seventh day) is unique among Israelite festivals and has prompted various interpretations. While the Bible does not explicitly state the reason, several theories exist. Some scholars suggest it symbolized a progression towards completion or perfection, with the number seven on the final day representing divine completeness. Others propose it might have reflected a gradual "winding down" of the festival's intensity or a symbolic representation of the seventy nations of the world, gradually being brought into the sphere of God's blessing, perhaps with one bullock for each nation over the course of the week. Another view is that it simply served as a distinctive feature to differentiate Sukkot from other feasts, emphasizing its unique character as a joyous harvest and wilderness commemoration. Regardless of the precise symbolic meaning, the decreasing number underscored the distinctiveness and divine ordering of this particular feast.

**What is the significance of the phrase "without spot" for the sacrificial animals?**

Answer: The phrase "without spot" (Hebrew: _tamim_) is of paramount significance for sacrificial animals throughout the Mosaic Law, as seen in passages like [Leviticus 1:3](/leviticus/1-3 "Leviticus 1:3 - Requirements for Burnt Offerings") and [Exodus 12:5](/exodus/12-5 "Exodus 12:5 - Requirements for the Passover Lamb"). It means the animal must be physically perfect, free from any blemish, disease, or defect. Theologically, this requirement served multiple purposes. First, it emphasized the holiness and perfection of God, to whom the offering was made; only the best and most perfect was fitting for Him. Second, it symbolized the purity required for atonement. A blemished animal could not adequately represent the transfer of sin or the purity necessary to approach a holy God. Third, and most profoundly, it foreshadowed the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who was "without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19), making Him the only acceptable and effective atonement for the sins of humanity.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous requirements for the sacrifices in Numbers 29:17, particularly the demand for animals "without spot," find their ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament sacrificial system, with its daily, weekly, and annual offerings, served as a shadow pointing to the reality of God's redemptive plan (Colossians 2:17). The repeated sacrifices, including the twelve bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs, could never truly take away sin but merely covered it and reminded the people of their need for a perfect atonement (Hebrews 10:4). Jesus, however, is the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29), the true and perfect sacrifice. He was born "without spot" of sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), lived a blameless life, and offered Himself "through the eternal Spirit without blemish to God" (Hebrews 9:14). His once-for-all sacrifice on the cross superseded all the Old Covenant rituals, providing complete and eternal redemption (Hebrews 10:10-14). Thus, Numbers 29:17, with its emphasis on costly, pure, and numerous offerings, serves as a powerful backdrop, highlighting the immeasurable value and absolute perfection of Christ's singular, all-sufficient work, which truly cleanses us from all sin and grants us direct access to God (Ephesians 2:18).

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.