Numbers 29:18

KJV

And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, [shall be] according to their number, after the manner:

KJV (with Strong's)

And their meat offering {H4503} and their drink offerings {H5262} for the bullocks {H6499}, for the rams {H352}, and for the lambs {H3532}, shall be according to their number {H4557}, after the manner {H4941}:

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 29:18 meticulously outlines the precise quantities and types of accompanying grain and drink offerings required for the second day of the Feast of Tabernacles. This verse, situated within a broader section of intricate sacrificial instructions, profoundly underscores the divine demand for precise, comprehensive, and obedient worship, revealing God's absolute holiness and the solemnity with which His people were to approach Him, ensuring every aspect of the prescribed ritual was fulfilled "according to their number, after the manner."

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 29:18 is an integral part of a highly detailed liturgical calendar found in [Numbers 28-29](/numbers/28 "Numbers 28-29 - Laws of Offerings for Festivals"), which meticulously prescribes the various offerings for Israel's annual feasts. Specifically, this verse falls within the extensive instructions for the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), spanning [Numbers 29:12-38](/numbers/29-12-38 "Numbers 29:12-38 - Sacrifices for the Feast of Tabernacles"). The preceding verses in chapter 29 have already outlined the specific sacrifices for the first day of Tabernacles ([Numbers 29:12-16](/numbers/29-12-16 "Numbers 29:12-16 - Offerings for Day 1 of Tabernacles")), as well as for the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement ([Numbers 29:1-11](/numbers/29-1-11 "Numbers 29:1-11 - Offerings for Trumpets and Atonement")). The repetitive and diminishing number of bullocks offered daily throughout Tabernacles, alongside consistent grain and drink offerings, emphasizes the systematic, divinely ordered, and comprehensive nature of Israel's worship, highlighting that every facet of their communion with God was precisely orchestrated and non-negotiable.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, was one of the three annual pilgrimage festivals (alongside Passover and Pentecost) where all Israelite males were commanded to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem. Culturally, it was a joyous agricultural harvest festival, celebrating the ingathering of the final crops of the year (grapes and olives), hence the inclusion of wine for drink offerings. Historically, it served as a profound reminder of God's faithful provision and miraculous protection during Israel's forty years of wilderness wanderings, when they dwelt in temporary shelters or booths (_sukkot_). The elaborate sacrificial system, encompassing animal sacrifices, grain offerings, and drink offerings, formed the core of Israelite worship and their covenant relationship with Yahweh. These offerings were not mere rituals but tangible expressions of devotion, atonement, thanksgiving, and communion, deeply interwoven into the daily, weekly, and annual rhythms of their lives. The divine precision in quantities and procedures reflected God's absolute holiness and the sacredness of the covenant.
* **Key Themes:** The detailed instructions in Numbers 29:18, and throughout the sacrificial laws, contribute to several profound theological themes. First, the **Sovereignty and Holiness of God** are paramount, as Yahweh dictates the exact manner in which He is to be approached, leaving no room for human innovation or improvisation in worship. This underscores His transcendent nature and the profound reverence due to Him, a principle echoed in the command to build the tabernacle "according to the pattern" ([Exodus 25:9](/exodus/25-9 "Exodus 25:9 - Building the Tabernacle According to the Pattern")). Second, **Obedience to Divine Command** is consistently emphasized; the spiritual well-being, national identity, and covenant blessings of Israel were inextricably linked to their faithful adherence to God's revealed will, as powerfully articulated in the blessings and curses of [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"). Third, the concept of **Holistic Devotion** is vividly portrayed through the inclusion of various types of offerings: animal sacrifices representing life and atonement; grain offerings (meal, flour, oil) representing the produce of the land and human labor; and drink offerings (wine) representing joy, bounty, and the outpouring of life. This comprehensive approach signifies that all aspects of Israelite life—from their sustenance to their celebrations—were to be consecrated to the Lord, reflecting a complete dedication of self and resources, a principle also seen in the detailed instructions for the grain offering in [Leviticus 2:1-3](/leviticus/2-1-3 "Leviticus 2:1-3 - The Law of the Grain Offering")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Meat Offering (Hebrew, _minchâh'_):** In the King James Version, "meat offering" is an archaic translation of the Hebrew term _minchâh_ (H4503). Unlike modern English where "meat" refers to animal flesh, _minchâh_ consistently denotes a "grain offering" or "meal offering." Derived from a root meaning "to apportion" or "bestow," these offerings were typically bloodless, consisting of fine flour, often mixed with oil and frankincense. They were presented to God as a gift, an act of homage, or a tribute, symbolizing the dedication of the fruits of labor and the sustenance of life to the Lord. They often accompanied burnt offerings or peace offerings, as seen in the foundational instructions for the grain offering in [Leviticus 2:1](/leviticus/2-1 "Leviticus 2:1 - The Law of the Grain Offering").
* **Drink Offering (Hebrew, _neçek'_):** The Hebrew word _neçek_ (H5262) refers to a "libation" or "drink offering," typically wine poured out on the altar as part of a sacrificial ritual. Derived from a root meaning "to pour out," this act symbolized devotion, joy, and the pouring out of one's life or resources before God. It was frequently presented alongside burnt offerings and grain offerings, completing the sacrificial act by dedicating the liquid bounty of the land. The instructions for drink offerings are detailed in passages such as [Numbers 15:5](/numbers/15-5 "Numbers 15:5 - Instructions for Drink Offerings").
* **After the manner (Hebrew, _mishpâṭ'_):** The phrase "after the manner" translates the Hebrew word _mishpâṭ_ (H4941), which signifies "judgment," "ordinance," "statute," or "custom." It refers to the prescribed ritual, the established legal decree, or the proper procedure for how these offerings were to be prepared, presented, and consumed (if applicable). This emphasizes the qualitative aspect of the offering—it must be done in the divinely ordained way, not according to human discretion. The inclusion of _mishpâṭ_ alongside "according to their number" (H4557, _miçpâr_, referring to exact quantity) highlights the meticulousness of God's commands, demanding both precise quantity and proper procedure, leaving no room for human deviation in worship.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And their meat offering and their drink offerings":** This clause introduces the two types of supplementary offerings that are the specific focus of the verse. These are not the primary animal sacrifices themselves (bullocks, rams, lambs) but rather the essential accompaniments that were always presented alongside them, indicating a holistic and complete act of worship. The "meat offering" (grain offering) and "drink offering" represented the produce of the land and the joy of the harvest, symbolizing the dedication of one's sustenance and life to God.
* **"for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs":** This specifies the recipients or beneficiaries of these accompanying offerings. The grain and drink offerings were not offered independently but were directly proportional to, and presented in conjunction with, the various animal sacrifices mandated for the second day of the Feast of Tabernacles. The varying sizes and types of animals (bullocks being large, rams medium, lambs small) would have corresponding, divinely prescribed amounts of grain and drink offerings, emphasizing the precise nature of the sacrificial system.
* **"[shall be] according to their number, after the manner":** This concluding phrase is pivotal, reiterating the divine demand for absolute precision and unwavering adherence to established protocol. "According to their number" (_miçpâr_) means the exact quantity of grain and drink offering was specified for each animal type and number (e.g., for each bullock, a certain measure of flour and oil; for each ram, a different measure). "After the manner" (_mishpâṭ_) signifies that the preparation, presentation, and pouring out of these offerings had to follow the pre-established, divinely ordained ritualistic procedures, ensuring that the worship was not only quantitatively correct but also qualitatively pure, acceptable, and holy to God.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device evident in Numbers 29:18, and indeed throughout the extensive sacrificial legislation in Numbers and Leviticus, is **Legal Precision** or **Detailed Prescriptive Language**. The text employs an exacting, formulaic, and almost bureaucratic style to ensure that every aspect of the ritual is understood and performed without deviation. This is powerfully reinforced by **Repetition**, as similar phrases like "according to their number, after the manner" or "as a pleasing aroma to the Lord" recur consistently throughout the chapters detailing offerings, underscoring the unwavering divine expectation for exactitude. There is also a strong element of **Symbolism**, where the physical acts of offering grain and wine, along with animals, symbolize deeper spiritual truths of consecration, dependence on God for sustenance, joy in His provision, and the pouring out of one's life in devotion. The meticulous enumeration of animals and their corresponding offerings also functions as a form of **Categorization** and **Classification**, organizing complex ritual requirements into an understandable, albeit extensive, framework for the priests and the people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 29:18 powerfully articulates the theological principle that true worship is not arbitrary or self-invented but must align precisely with God's revealed will. The meticulous detail concerning the "meat offering" (grain offering) and "drink offering" underscores God's absolute holiness and His demand for an ordered, complete, and obedient approach from His people. This divine precision reflects the perfect order of the divine character and serves to impress upon Israel the profound seriousness of their covenant relationship. It teaches that devotion to God involves a holistic offering of all aspects of life—from the produce of the land (grain) to the joy of the harvest (wine)—all presented in the exact manner prescribed by the Divine Lawgiver. This unwavering standard foreshadows the perfect and complete sacrifice that would ultimately be required and given for humanity's redemption, highlighting that only a flawless offering could truly bridge the chasm between a holy God and sinful humanity, a concept seen in the instructions for the tabernacle in [Exodus 25:9](/exodus/25-9 "Exodus 25:9 - Building the Tabernacle According to the Pattern") and summarized in the laws of offerings in [Leviticus 7:37-38](/leviticus/7-37-38 "Leviticus 7:37-38 - Summary of the Laws of Offerings"). The necessity of blood for atonement ([Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Necessity of Blood for Atonement")) further emphasizes the seriousness and completeness required.

* [Exodus 25:9](/exodus/25-9 "Exodus 25:9 - Building the Tabernacle According to the Pattern")
* [Leviticus 7:37-38](/leviticus/7-37-38 "Leviticus 7:37-38 - Summary of the Laws of Offerings")
* [Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Necessity of Blood for Atonement")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the literal sacrificial system of the Old Testament has been perfectly fulfilled in Christ, the underlying principles of Numbers 29:18 remain profoundly relevant for believers today, guiding our approach to worship and discipleship. The divine demand for precision, completeness, and adherence to God's revealed will in ancient offerings challenges us to consider the intentionality and comprehensiveness of our own "spiritual sacrifices" in the New Covenant. Our worship should not be haphazard, casual, or self-serving, but rather thoughtful, deliberate, and offered in obedience to God's revealed will in Scripture. This means dedicating our absolute best—our time, our unique talents, our material resources, and even our very bodies—as a "living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God" ([Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Romans 12:1 - Present Your Bodies as a Living Sacrifice")), reflecting the holiness of God and our profound reverence for Him. Just as the grain and drink offerings completed the animal sacrifices, our devotion should be holistic, encompassing every facet of our lives, acknowledging that all we have and are comes from God and is to be used for His glory, not merely a convenient portion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail of Old Testament sacrifices, like those in Numbers 29:18, deepen your understanding of God's character and His expectations for worship today?**
* **In what practical and comprehensive ways can you offer a "holistic devotion" to God, encompassing your time, talents, and resources, rather than just a convenient portion?**
* **What does "according to their number, after the manner" mean for your personal spiritual disciplines, your commitment to biblical truth, and your obedience to God's Word in your daily life?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the "meat offering" and "drink offering" in Numbers 29:18?**

Answer: In the King James Version, "meat offering" refers to a grain offering (_minchah_ in Hebrew), typically made of fine flour, oil, and frankincense. It symbolized the dedication of the produce of the land and the fruits of human labor to God, representing sustenance and provision. The "drink offering" (_nesekh_ in Hebrew) was usually wine poured out as a libation, symbolizing joy, devotion, and the pouring out of one's life or resources before the Lord. Both were supplementary offerings, accompanying the primary animal sacrifices (bullocks, rams, lambs), signifying a complete and comprehensive act of worship where all aspects of life—from sustenance to celebration—were consecrated to God. These offerings were not optional but were meticulously prescribed, emphasizing the divine demand for precise and holistic worship, as detailed in [Numbers 15:1-10](/numbers/15-1-10 "Numbers 15:1-10 - Laws for Offerings").

**Why are the instructions for sacrifices so detailed and repetitive in the Book of Numbers?**

Answer: The detailed and often repetitive nature of the sacrificial instructions in Numbers, including Numbers 29:18, serves several crucial purposes. First, it underscores the absolute holiness of God and the seriousness with which His people were to approach Him. Worship was not to be a casual or improvised affair but a sacred act performed according to divine command. Second, it ensured uniformity and consistency in worship across all generations and tribes of Israel, preventing deviation from God's prescribed will and maintaining the purity of their covenant relationship. Third, the repetition served as a pedagogical tool, deeply imprinting these vital laws upon the memory and practice of the Israelites, ensuring they knew exactly how to worship. Finally, this meticulousness foreshadows the perfect and complete nature of the ultimate sacrifice required for atonement, highlighting that no human effort or partial offering could suffice to bridge the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity, a profound theological truth fully revealed in the New Testament (e.g., [Hebrews 10:1-4](/hebrews/10-1-4 "Hebrews 10:1-4 - The Law as a Shadow of Good Things to Come")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 29:18, with its meticulous details concerning grain and drink offerings accompanying animal sacrifices, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The entire Old Testament sacrificial system, though divinely ordained, was a shadow of the perfect reality to come, as powerfully articulated in [Hebrews 10:1](/hebrews/10-1 "Hebrews 10:1 - The Law as a Shadow"). The "meat offering" (grain offering) symbolized the dedication of sustenance and life, while the "drink offering" represented joy and the pouring out of one's being. Jesus Christ, as the spotless [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), offered Himself as the singular, all-sufficient sacrifice, fulfilling every requirement of the Law, including the need for a perfect life and a complete devotion. His body, broken for us, and His blood, poured out for the forgiveness of sins ([Matthew 26:28](/matthew/26-28 "Matthew 26:28 - The Blood of the Covenant")), encompass and transcend all the Old Testament offerings. He is not only the perfect animal sacrifice but also the ultimate "grain offering" (the [Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life") who sustains us) and "drink offering" (the source of [living water](/john/7-37-38 "John 7:37-38 - Rivers of Living Water") that satisfies our deepest thirst). Through His finished work on the cross, the meticulous demands of the Old Covenant are perfectly met, allowing believers to now offer spiritual sacrifices of praise, thanksgiving, and lives consecrated to God, based not on our imperfect efforts but on His perfect and complete offering once for all ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Christ's Single Sacrifice")).

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.

Cross-References

Numbers 28:7

And the drink offering thereof [shall be] the fourth [part] of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy [place] shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD [for] a drink offering.

Numbers 28:14

And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third [part] of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth [part] of an hin unto a lamb: this [is] the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.

Numbers 15:4

Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the LORD bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth [part] of an hin of oil.

Numbers 15:12

According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to every one according to their number.

Numbers 29:9

And their meat offering [shall be of] flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, [and] two tenth deals to one ram,

Numbers 29:10

A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

Numbers 29:3

And their meat offering [shall be of] flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, [and] two tenth deals for a ram,