Numbers 28

1 The LORD said to Moses,

2 “Give these instructions to the people of Israel: The offerings you present as special gifts are a pleasing aroma to me; they are my food. See to it that they are brought at the appointed times and offered according to my instructions.

3 “Say to the people: This is the special gift you must present to the LORD as your daily burnt offering. You must offer two one-year-old male lambs with no defects.

4 Sacrifice one lamb in the morning and the other in the evening.

5 With each lamb you must offer a grain offering of two quarts of choice flour mixed with one quart of pure oil of pressed olives.

6 This is the regular burnt offering instituted at Mount Sinai as a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the LORD .

7 Along with it you must present the proper liquid offering of one quart of alcoholic drink with each lamb, poured out in the Holy Place as an offering to the LORD .

8 Offer the second lamb in the evening with the same grain offering and liquid offering. It, too, is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the LORD .

9 “On the Sabbath day, sacrifice two one-year-old male lambs with no defects. They must be accompanied by a grain offering of four quarts of choice flour moistened with olive oil, and a liquid offering.

10 This is the burnt offering to be presented each Sabbath day, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its accompanying liquid offering.

11 “On the first day of each month, present an extra burnt offering to the LORD of two young bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs, all with no defects.

12 These must be accompanied by grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil—six quarts with each bull, four quarts with the ram,

13 and two quarts with each lamb. This burnt offering will be a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the LORD .

14 You must also present a liquid offering with each sacrifice: two quarts of wine for each bull, a third of a gallon for the ram, and one quart for each lamb. Present this monthly burnt offering on the first day of each month throughout the year.

15 “On the first day of each month, you must also offer one male goat for a sin offering to the LORD . This is in addition to the regular burnt offering and its accompanying liquid offering.

16 “On the fourteenth day of the first month, you must celebrate the LORD ’s Passover.

17 On the following day—the fifteenth day of the month—a joyous, seven-day festival will begin, but no bread made with yeast may be eaten.

18 The first day of the festival will be an official day for holy assembly, and no ordinary work may be done on that day.

19 As a special gift you must present a burnt offering to the LORD —two young bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs, all with no defects.

20 These will be accompanied by grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil—six quarts with each bull, four quarts with the ram,

21 and two quarts with each of the seven lambs.

22 You must also offer a male goat as a sin offering to purify yourselves and make yourselves right with the LORD .

23 Present these offerings in addition to your regular morning burnt offering.

24 On each of the seven days of the festival, this is how you must prepare the food offering that is presented as a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the LORD . These will be offered in addition to the regular burnt offerings and liquid offerings.

25 The seventh day of the festival will be another official day for holy assembly, and no ordinary work may be done on that day.

26 “At the Festival of Harvest, when you present the first of your new grain to the LORD, you must call an official day for holy assembly, and you may do no ordinary work on that day.

27 Present a special burnt offering on that day as a pleasing aroma to the LORD . It will consist of two young bulls, one ram, and seven one-year-old male lambs.

28 These will be accompanied by grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil—six quarts with each bull, four quarts with the ram,

29 and two quarts with each of the seven lambs.

30 Also, offer one male goat to purify yourselves and make yourselves right with the LORD .

31 Prepare these special burnt offerings, along with their liquid offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its accompanying grain offering. Be sure that all the animals you sacrifice have no defects.

Numbers 28 Commentary

Chapter 28

Offerings, The daily sacrifice. (1-8) The offering on the sabbath and new moons. (9-15) Offerings at the passover, and on the day of first-fruits. (16-31)

Verses 1-8 God saw fit now to repeat the law of sacrifices. This was a new generation of men; and they were concerned to keep their peace with God when at war with their enemies. The daily sacrifice is called a continual burnt-offering; when we are bid to pray always, at least every morning and evening we should offer up solemn prayers and praises to God. Nothing is added here but that the wine poured out in the drink-offering is to be strong wine, to teach us to serve God with the best we have. It was a figure of the blood of Christ, the memorial of which is still left to the church in wine; and of the blood of the martyrs, which was poured out as a drink-offering on the sacrifice and service of our faith, ( Philippians 2:17 ) .

Verses 9-15 Every sabbath day, beside the two lambs offered for the daily burnt-offering, there must be two more offered. This teaches us to double our devotions on sabbath days, for so the duty of the day requires. The sabbath rest is to be observed, in order more closely to apply ourselves to the sabbath work, which ought to fill up the sabbath time. The offerings in the new moons showed thankfulness for the renewing of earthly blessings: when we rejoice in the gifts of providence, we must make the sacrifice of Christ, that great gift of special grace, the fountain and spring-head of our joy. And the worship performed in the new moons is made typical of gospel solemnities, Isa. 66:23 . As the moon borrows light from the sun, and is renewed by its influences; so the church borrows her light from Jesus Christ, who is the Sun of righteousness, renewing the state of the church, especially under the gospel.

Verses 16-31 By the sacrifices enjoined in this chapter, we are reminded of the continued power of the sacrifice of Christ, and of our continual need to depend thereon. No hurrying employments, or perilous situations, or prosperous circumstances, should cause slackness in our religious exercises; but should rather stir us up to greater diligence in seeking help from, or giving thanks to the Lord. And all is to be accompanied with repentance, faith is the Lord Jesus, and love to him, and to produce true holiness in our conduct towards all men; otherwise God will abhor our most solemn services and abundant devotions. And Christ is able to supply the wants of every day, every week, every month, every year, every ordinance, every case.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew of an ephah [2.2 liters]; also in 28:13, 21, 29 .
• [b]. Hebrew of a hin [1 liter]; also in 28:7 .
• [c]. Hebrew of an ephah [4.4 liters]; also in 28:12, 20, 28 .
• [d]. Hebrew of an ephah [6.6 liters]; also in 28:20, 28 .
• [e]. Hebrew of a hin [2 liters].
• [f]. Hebrew of a hin [1.3 liters].
• [g]. Hebrew of a hin [1 liter].
• [h]. This day in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in late March, April, or early May.
• [i]. Or to make atonement for yourselves; also in 28:30 .
• [j]. Hebrew Festival of Weeks. This was later called the Festival of Pentecost (see Acts 2:1 ). It is celebrated today as Shavuot (or Shabuoth).

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 28

In this chapter is a repetition of several laws concerning sacrifices, as the law of the daily sacrifice morning and evening, Nu 28:1-8 of those that were offered every week on the sabbath day, Nu 28:9,10 and every month on the first day of the month, Nu 28:11-15 and on the seven days of unleavened bread, Nu 28:16-25, and at the feast of weeks, Nu 28:26-31.