Numbers 29:26

And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, [and] fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:

And on the fifth {H2549} day {H3117} nine {H8672} bullocks {H6499}, two {H8147} rams {H352}, and fourteen {H702}{H6240} lambs {H3532} of the first {H1121} year {H8141} without spot {H8549}:

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

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

And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;

Commentary

Numbers 29:26 details the specific animal sacrifices required for the fifth day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), a significant annual festival for ancient Israel. On this day, the offerings included nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs, all specified to be "of the first year without spot," emphasizing their purity and perfection for presentation before God.

Context

This verse is situated within a lengthy section of the Book of Numbers (Numbers 28-29) that outlines the detailed laws and regulations for various offerings and annual feasts in the Mosaic Law. Specifically, Numbers 29:12-38 provides the precise instructions for the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot. This was a seven-day harvest festival, followed by an eighth day of solemn assembly, commemorating God's provision for Israel during their forty years of wandering in the wilderness (Leviticus 23:43). The number of bullocks prescribed for the daily burnt offering decreased by one each day of the main seven-day feast, starting with thirteen on the first day and concluding with seven on the seventh day, while the rams and lambs remained constant.

Key Themes

  • Divine Precision and Order: The meticulous detail in these instructions highlights God's demand for order and exactness in worship. Every aspect of the offerings was divinely prescribed, leaving no room for human improvisation.
  • Abundance and Generosity: The large number of animals offered daily underscores the magnitude of Israel's devotion and the lavishness expected in their worship and thanksgiving to God for His blessings and provision.
  • Perfection of Sacrifice: The recurring phrase "without spot" (or "without blemish") is crucial. It signifies the requirement for physical perfection in the sacrificial animals, symbolizing the purity and holiness necessary for approaching a holy God. This foreshadows the ultimate, perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
  • Atonement and Fellowship: These burnt offerings, along with sin offerings (implied by the overall context of the feast's requirements, though not explicitly in this verse), were integral to Israel's system of atonement and maintaining their covenant relationship and fellowship with God.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "without spot" is tรขmรฎm (ืชึธึผืžึดื™ื), which conveys a deeper meaning than just physical flawlessness. It signifies wholeness, completeness, integrity, and moral blamelessness. When applied to sacrifices, it meant the animal was perfect in every way, fit for sacred use. This concept directly relates to the New Testament portrayal of Jesus Christ as the "Lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19), the ultimate perfect sacrifice.

Practical Application

While we no longer offer animal sacrifices, Numbers 29:26 provides timeless principles for our worship and spiritual lives. It teaches us about:

  • Giving Our Best: God desires our best, not just leftovers or imperfections. This means offering Him our time, talents, and resources with excellence and a pure heart (Romans 12:1).
  • The Significance of Christ's Sacrifice: The emphasis on "without spot" points powerfully to Jesus, whose sinless life and perfect sacrifice completely atoned for our sins, making it possible for us to have an unhindered relationship with God (Hebrews 10:10).
  • Order and Reverence in Worship: Even in modern worship, a sense of order, reverence, and intentionality is important. Our approach to God should reflect His holiness and majesty.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

No cross-references found.

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