Numbers 29:26

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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}:

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 29:26 meticulously details the specific animal sacrifices required for the fifth day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), a pivotal annual festival in ancient Israel. On this particular day, the prescribed offerings included nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs, all explicitly designated as "of the first year without spot," emphasizing their pristine condition and unblemished perfection, essential for their presentation as holy offerings before the Lord. This verse, part of a larger legislative section, underscores God's demand for precise, abundant, and pure worship from His covenant people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 29:26 is situated within a comprehensive legislative block in the Book of Numbers, specifically [Numbers 28-29](/numbers/28 "Numbers 28-29 - Laws of Offerings and Feasts"), which meticulously outlines the various offerings and annual feasts commanded by God through Moses. This particular verse falls within the detailed instructions for the Feast of Tabernacles, found in [Numbers 29:12-38](/numbers/29-12 "Numbers 29:12-38 - Instructions for the Feast of Tabernacles"). The preceding verses detail the offerings for the first four days of Sukkot, showing a pattern of decreasing bullock offerings each day, while the number of rams and lambs remains constant. This numerical progression, from thirteen bullocks on the first day ([Numbers 29:13](/numbers/29-13 "Numbers 29:13 - Offerings on the First Day of Sukkot")) down to seven on the seventh day ([Numbers 29:32](/numbers/29-32 "Numbers 29:32 - Offerings on the Seventh Day of Sukkot")), highlights a deliberate, divinely ordained structure for the festival's sacrificial rituals.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) was one of the three annual pilgrimage festivals (alongside Passover and Pentecost) where all Israelite males were required to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem. It was a seven-day harvest festival, followed by an eighth day of solemn assembly, commemorating God's faithful provision for Israel during their forty years of wandering in the wilderness, when they lived in temporary shelters or booths ([Leviticus 23:43](/leviticus/23-43 "Leviticus 23:43 - Historical Significance of Sukkot")). Agriculturally, it marked the ingathering of the final harvest, prompting thanksgiving for God's bounty. The elaborate and costly animal sacrifices, including burnt offerings (olah), grain offerings (minchah), and drink offerings (nesek), were central to Israelite worship, serving as expressions of atonement, consecration, thanksgiving, and communion with God. The requirement for animals to be "without spot" was a universal principle for acceptable sacrifices, reflecting the holiness of God and the need for purity in approaching Him.

* **Key Themes:** Numbers 29:26 contributes to several overarching themes within the Book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. The meticulous detail in the sacrificial instructions underscores the theme of **Divine Precision and Order** in worship, demonstrating that God's commands are exact and require strict adherence, leaving no room for human improvisation. The sheer volume of animals offered daily highlights the theme of **Abundance and Generosity** in Israel's worship, reflecting a lavish expression of devotion and thanksgiving to God for His blessings and covenant faithfulness. Furthermore, the recurring phrase "without spot" (or "without blemish") emphasizes the critical theme of the **Perfection of Sacrifice**, symbolizing the purity and holiness necessary for approaching a holy God. This requirement for physical perfection in the sacrificial animals profoundly foreshadows the ultimate, [perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice"), who was without sin. Finally, these offerings were integral to Israel's system of **Atonement and Fellowship**, serving as a means for the nation to maintain their covenant relationship and commune with God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Spot (Hebrew, _tamim'_):** The Hebrew word תָּמִים (_tamim_), translated as "without spot" or "without blemish," carries a rich theological meaning far beyond mere physical flawlessness. It signifies wholeness, completeness, integrity, soundness, and moral blamelessness. When applied to sacrificial animals, it means the animal was perfect in every respect—physically sound, healthy, and free from any defect that would render it unacceptable for sacred use. This concept underscores the demand for the highest quality in offerings presented to a holy God, symbolizing the purity and perfection required for atonement and worship.
* **First year (Hebrew, _ben-shanah'_):** The phrase בֶּן־שָׁנָה (_ben-shanah_), literally "son of a year," indicates that the lambs were young, typically within their first year of life. This specification ensures that the animals were in their prime, representing the vigor, vitality, and purity of youth. It reflects the principle of offering God the "firstfruits" and the best of what one possesses, not something old, weak, or past its prime.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And on the fifth day":** This introductory phrase precisely situates the prescribed offerings within the seven-day duration of the Feast of Tabernacles. It indicates a continuation of the daily sacrificial regimen, emphasizing the sustained and consistent nature of Israel's worship throughout the festival. The day-by-day enumeration highlights the structured and orderly nature of the divine commands.
* **"nine bullocks, two rams, [and] fourteen lambs":** This clause provides the specific quantities and types of animals to be offered as burnt offerings on the fifth day. The number of bullocks (nine) continues the decreasing pattern observed since the first day (thirteen), while the number of rams (two) and lambs (fourteen) remains constant throughout the main seven days of the feast. This detailed enumeration underscores the divine precision required in Israelite worship and the significant scale of the offerings presented.
* **"of the first year without spot":** This crucial phrase specifies the qualitative requirements for all the animals. "Of the first year" denotes their optimal age, ensuring they are young and in their prime. "Without spot" (Hebrew _tamim_) signifies their physical perfection, freedom from blemish, and overall soundness. This requirement was fundamental for all sacrificial animals, symbolizing the purity and holiness demanded by God for acceptable worship and foreshadowing the perfect, unblemished nature of the ultimate sacrifice.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Numbers 29:26, and indeed throughout [Numbers 28-29](/numbers/28 "Numbers 28-29 - Laws of Offerings and Feasts"), is **Enumeration** and **Precision**. The text meticulously lists the exact quantities and types of animals for each day's offering, demonstrating a highly organized and detailed divine instruction. This repetitive and precise listing emphasizes the divine origin of these laws and the absolute necessity for Israel to follow them without deviation. Furthermore, **Symbolism** is profoundly present, particularly in the phrase "without spot." The physical perfection of the animal symbolizes the spiritual purity and blamelessness required for approaching a holy God, and ultimately, points to the sinless perfection of Christ. The decreasing number of bullocks over the days of the feast also carries a symbolic weight, though its precise meaning is debated, it contributes to the overall structured and symbolic nature of the ritual.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 29:26, with its emphasis on precise, abundant, and unblemished sacrifices, deeply connects to the broader biblical themes of God's holiness, the nature of acceptable worship, and the foreshadowing of ultimate redemption. The divine demand for perfection in offerings underscores the absolute purity of God and the impossibility of a flawed offering appeasing Him. This meticulousness teaches Israel (and us) that worship is not casual but requires intentionality, reverence, and the very best of what we possess. The sheer volume of offerings also speaks to the abundance of God's provision and the commensurate generosity expected from His people in response. Ultimately, these Old Testament sacrificial laws, while no longer practiced, serve as a profound theological backdrop, illuminating the necessity and efficacy of Christ's perfect sacrifice.

* [Leviticus 1:3](/leviticus/1-3 "Requirements for Burnt Offerings"): "He shall offer a male without blemish from the herd or the flock; he shall offer it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord."
* [Malachi 1:8](/malachi/1-8 "Unacceptable Sacrifices"): "When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts."
* [Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "The Superiority of Christ's Blood"): "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific animal sacrifices of Numbers 29:26 are no longer required under the New Covenant, the spiritual principles embedded within this verse remain profoundly relevant for believers today. The meticulous detail and the requirement for "without spot" offerings call us to a high standard in our worship and daily lives. God still desires our "best," not our leftovers or what is convenient. This means offering Him our time, talents, resources, and even our very selves with excellence, integrity, and a pure heart, recognizing that our lives are now living sacrifices ([Romans 12:1](/romans/12-1 "Living Sacrifices")). The Old Testament emphasis on perfection in sacrifice powerfully points to the singular perfection of Jesus Christ, reminding us that our access to God is not based on our flawed offerings but on His flawless one. Therefore, our worship should be marked by reverence, intentionality, and a deep appreciation for the unblemished Lamb who made true fellowship with God possible.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I tempted to offer God less than my "best" or "without spot" efforts?**
* **How does the precision of these Old Testament sacrificial laws inform my understanding of God's character and His expectations for our worship today?**
* **How does the concept of an "unblemished" sacrifice deepen my appreciation for Jesus Christ's work on the cross?**

### FAQ
**Why did the number of bullocks decrease each day during the Feast of Tabernacles?**

Answer: The precise reason for the decreasing number of bullocks (from thirteen on the first day to seven on the seventh day) is not explicitly stated in the biblical text, leading to various interpretations among scholars. Some suggest it symbolizes a gradual culmination or winding down of the festival's intensity, while others see it as a pedagogical device, perhaps to emphasize the unique significance of each day. It might also represent a progression towards spiritual maturity or a symbolic representation of the diminishing needs for atonement as the feast progresses, culminating in the perfect rest of the eighth day. Regardless of the specific interpretation, this unique pattern underscores the divine precision and intentionality behind every detail of Israel's worship, highlighting God's sovereign design for the festival's sacrificial rhythm.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 29:26, with its stringent requirement for sacrifices "of the first year without spot," finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament sacrificial system, though divinely ordained, was inherently temporary and imperfect, requiring continuous repetition because the blood of animals could not truly take away sins ([Hebrews 10:4](/hebrews/10-4 "Inadequacy of Animal Sacrifices")). These unblemished animals served as powerful types and shadows, pointing forward to the one perfect sacrifice that would fully and finally atone for humanity's sin. Jesus, uniquely born "of the first year" in the sense of His sinless youth and vigor, is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God"). He is described as "a lamb without blemish or spot" ([1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18 "Redemption through Christ's Precious Blood")), fulfilling the Old Testament requirement for an unblemished offering. Unlike the daily, weekly, and annual sacrifices of the Old Covenant, Christ offered Himself once for all ([Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice") and [Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Sanctification through Christ's Body")), His perfect and eternal sacrifice providing complete and sufficient atonement, ushering in a new covenant of grace and direct access to God. Thus, Numbers 29:26, far from being an archaic ritual, stands as a prophetic echo, resonating with the glorious truth of our redemption through the spotless Lamb.

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.