Numbers 29:32

KJV

And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, [and] fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

KJV (with Strong's)

And on the seventh {H7637} day {H3117} seven {H7651} bullocks {H6499}, two {H8147} rams {H352}, and fourteen {H702}{H6240} lambs {H3532} of the first {H1121} year {H8141} without blemish {H8549}:

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 29:32 meticulously details the specific animal sacrifices required on the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), a pivotal annual festival for ancient Israel. This verse, embedded within a larger section outlining national offerings for various feasts, specifies seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs, all required to be "without blemish." It underscores the precise and systematic nature of Israelite worship, emphasizing the perfection and purity demanded in their approach to a holy God, while also highlighting the unique pattern of decreasing bullock offerings throughout this particular seven-day celebration.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 29 is situated within the broader legal and cultic sections of the book of Numbers, which primarily chronicles Israel's wilderness journey from Sinai to the plains of Moab. Chapters 28-29 specifically detail the national offerings for the regular daily, weekly, monthly, and annual feasts. This particular chapter meticulously outlines the sacrifices for the seven annual festivals: Passover and Unleavened Bread, Weeks (Pentecost), Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Numbers 29:12-38 is dedicated entirely to the Feast of Tabernacles, providing a day-by-day breakdown of the offerings. The unique literary pattern observed is the progressive decrease in the number of bullocks offered each day, starting with thirteen on the first day and concluding with seven on the seventh day, as specified in this verse, while the rams and lambs remain constant. This systematic enumeration underscores the divine precision required in Israel's worship.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) was one of the three great pilgrimage festivals (alongside Passover and Pentecost) when all Israelite males were commanded to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16). Historically, it commemorated God's faithful provision and protection during the forty years of wilderness wanderings, when the Israelites lived in temporary shelters or booths (Leviticus 23:43). Culturally, it was also a harvest festival, celebrating the ingathering of the autumn produce, particularly grapes and olives, and expressing thanksgiving for God's bounty. The act of dwelling in temporary shelters during the feast served as a tangible reminder of their transient past and God's enduring presence. The elaborate sacrificial system, including the daily burnt offerings, sin offerings, and peace offerings, was central to Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh, symbolizing atonement, dedication, and communion.
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 29:32 contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. First, it powerfully illustrates the theme of **Systematic and Ordered Worship**. The meticulous, day-by-day instructions for offerings highlight God's demand for precision and adherence in approaching Him, emphasizing that worship is not arbitrary but divinely prescribed. Second, the repeated phrase "without blemish" points to the theme of **Holiness and Purity**. This requirement for perfect animals underscores the necessity of presenting the best to a holy God, foreshadowing the ultimate, unblemished sacrifice (as seen in [Leviticus 1:3](/leviticus/1-3 "Leviticus 1:3 - Requirement for Unblemished Offerings")). Third, the Feast of Tabernacles itself embodies the theme of **God's Faithful Provision and Dwelling with His People**. It celebrates God's past faithfulness in the wilderness and His desire to "tabernacle" or dwell among humanity, a theme that finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person of Christ and the promise of God's eternal presence with His redeemed people (as anticipated in [Revelation 21:3](/revelation/21-3 "Revelation 21:3 - God's Dwelling with Humanity in the New Creation")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Without Blemish (Hebrew, _tamim'_):** The Hebrew word תָּמִים (_tamim_) is crucial in the context of Old Testament sacrifices. It signifies completeness, soundness, integrity, or perfection. When applied to sacrificial animals, it denotes physical perfection – free from any defect, disease, or imperfection that would render it unacceptable for offering to a holy God. This physical perfection was not merely aesthetic; it symbolized the spiritual purity and holiness required of the offering and, by extension, the worshiper. The concept of _tamim_ extended beyond sacrifices to describe moral integrity and blamelessness in people (e.g., [Genesis 6:9](/genesis/6-9 "Genesis 6:9 - Noah, a Blameless Man")). In the sacrificial system, it underscored the absolute purity necessary for atonement and communion with a holy God, setting a standard that ultimately pointed to the perfect, sinless nature of the Messiah, who would be the ultimate sacrificial offering.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And on the seventh day":** This phrase precisely locates the offerings within the structure of the Feast of Tabernacles, which was a seven-day festival followed by an eighth day of solemn assembly. The seventh day marked the culmination of the primary festival period, and its offerings, while still substantial, represented the final step in the unique, decreasing pattern of bullock sacrifices for this feast. It signifies the completion of a cycle of intense worship and celebration dedicated to God's provision.
* **"seven bullocks, two rams, [and] fourteen lambs of the first year":** This specifies the exact quantity and type of animals required for the burnt offering on this particular day. The "seven bullocks" are significant as they represent the lowest number of bullocks offered during the seven days of Sukkot, continuing the pattern of reduction from thirteen on the first day. The "two rams" and "十四 lambs of the first year" (meaning young, vigorous, and therefore valuable animals) maintain a consistent number throughout the festival, highlighting the foundational and unchanging nature of these offerings regardless of the day. The sheer volume of animals underscores the magnitude of the national worship and the costliness of approaching God.
* **"without blemish":** This critical phrase, translating from the Hebrew _tamim_, denotes that each animal designated for sacrifice had to be physically perfect, free from any defect, disease, or imperfection. This requirement was universal for all acceptable burnt offerings in the Mosaic Law. It symbolized the absolute purity and holiness demanded by God for any offering presented to Him, emphasizing that only the best, the unblemished, could serve as a suitable representation for the worshiper's dedication and atonement before a holy God.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 29:32, within its broader context, employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is **Numerical Patterning**, specifically a **Decreasing Progression**. Throughout the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles, the number of bullocks offered systematically decreases from thirteen on the first day to seven on the seventh day. This precise numerical arrangement is unique to Sukkot among the annual feasts and serves to emphasize the distinct character of this festival's offerings, perhaps symbolizing a gradual intensification of focus or a culminating sense of completion. The consistent numbers of rams and lambs, however, provide a counterpoint of **Repetition** and stability amidst this diminishing pattern. Furthermore, the recurring phrase "without blemish" functions as **Symbolism**, where the physical perfection of the animal represents the spiritual purity and holiness required for acceptable worship and, ultimately, points to the perfect nature of the coming Messiah. The detailed enumeration itself, typical of the cultic laws, also highlights the **Precision** and **Order** God demands in worship.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 29:32, as part of the detailed sacrificial calendar, underscores the profound theological truth that approaching a holy God requires specific, divinely ordained means and a commitment to purity. The meticulous instructions for the Feast of Tabernacles offerings, particularly the decreasing number of bullocks, highlight God's sovereignty over worship and His desire for His people to engage in intentional, costly acts of devotion. The consistent demand for animals "without blemish" points to the absolute perfection required for atonement, a standard that no human or animal sacrifice could ultimately meet, thereby foreshadowing the need for a perfect, sinless redeemer. This verse, therefore, not only provides insight into ancient Israelite worship but also lays theological groundwork for understanding the ultimate sacrifice of Christ.

* [Leviticus 1:3](/leviticus/1-3 "Leviticus 1:3 - Requirement for Unblemished Offerings")
* [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")
* [Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 29:32, though detailing ancient sacrificial rituals, offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. The meticulous nature of these commands calls us to approach our worship of God with intentionality, reverence, and a commitment to offering our very best. It reminds us that genuine worship is not casual or haphazard but requires dedication, preparation, and a heart yielded to God's will. Understanding the rigorous demands of the Old Testament sacrificial system deepens our appreciation for the complete and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfilled all requirements by becoming the unblemished offering for sin once and for all. We are now called to offer our lives as "living sacrifices," holy and acceptable to God, in response to His immeasurable grace. Furthermore, the Feast of Tabernacles, within which this verse is set, was a celebration of God's past provision and His continued presence. This invites us to regularly remember and give thanks for God's enduring faithfulness in our lives and His promise to be with us always, even as we look forward to His ultimate dwelling with humanity in the new creation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail of the Old Testament sacrificial system, as seen in Numbers 29:32, inform your understanding of God's holiness and the seriousness of sin?**
* **In what ways can we, as New Covenant believers, apply the principle of offering our "best" or "without blemish" to our worship and service today?**
* **How does reflecting on the Feast of Tabernacles and God's dwelling with Israel deepen your appreciation for Christ's incarnation and the promise of His eternal presence?**

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

Answer: The exact theological reason for the decreasing number of bullocks (from thirteen on the first day to seven on the seventh day) during the Feast of Tabernacles is not explicitly stated in the biblical text, leading to various interpretations. Some scholars suggest it may symbolize a gradual intensification of focus, a culmination, or perhaps a unique emphasis on the number seven, representing completion or perfection, as the festival drew to a close. Others propose it might have been a practical measure to manage the immense number of sacrifices over the seven days, or even a symbolic representation of the diminishing "strength" or "burden" of sin as atonement was continually made. Regardless of the precise reason, this unique pattern underscored the distinctiveness and systematic nature of the Sukkot offerings within Israel's annual worship calendar, highlighting God's specific instructions for each feast.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 29:32, with its emphasis on precise, unblemished sacrifices culminating the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The requirement for animals "without blemish" (Hebrew _tamim_) powerfully foreshadows the sinless perfection of Jesus, who was the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Unlike the countless bullocks, rams, and lambs offered daily and annually, Christ offered Himself "once for all" ([Hebrews 7:27](/hebrews/7-27 "Hebrews 7:27 - Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice")), a perfect and sufficient sacrifice that truly atoned for sin, making obsolete the need for repeated animal offerings ([Hebrews 10:10-14](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10-14 - The Sufficiency of Christ's Sacrifice")). Furthermore, the Feast of Tabernacles celebrated God's dwelling with His people in the wilderness; this theme culminates in Christ, who is "God with us" ([Matthew 1:23](/matthew/1-23 "Matthew 1:23 - Immanuel, God With Us")), the true Tabernacle in whom God's glory dwelt among humanity ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). His perfect sacrifice not only cleansed us but also inaugurated a new era where God's Spirit "tabernacles" within believers ([1 Corinthians 6:19](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Your Body, a Temple of the Holy Spirit")), ultimately pointing to the eternal reality where God will dwell with His redeemed people in the New Jerusalem, and there will be no need for a temple, "for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" ([Revelation 21:3](/revelation/21-3 "Revelation 21:3 - God's Dwelling with Humanity in the New Creation") and [Revelation 21:22](/revelation/21-22 "Revelation 21:22 - No Temple in the New Jerusalem")).

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.