Numbers 29

Numbers 29 details the offerings to be made by the Israelites during specific appointed times, including the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. It outlines the sacrifices required for each occasion, emphasizing the importance of devotion and the meticulousness of worship under the law.

Numbers 29:1 (NKJV)
1 ‘And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you, it is a day of blowing the trumpets.’

The seventh month marks the beginning of several important festivals. The first day of this month is the Feast of Trumpets, a day to gather as a community and refrain from work. The blowing of trumpets signifies a time of celebration and remembrance, calling the people together in worship. This day serves as a reminder of God’s presence and His guidance for the nation.

Numbers 29:2-3 (NKJV)
2 You shall offer a burnt offering as a sweet aroma to the Lord: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year, without blemish.
3 Their grain offering shall be fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram,

For this holy day, specific offerings are required to be made, including a young bull, a ram, and seven lambs, all without defect. The grain offerings, prepared with fine flour and oil, are included as part of the sacrifice. These offerings signify devotion and are made with precision to honor God.

Numbers 29:4 (NKJV)
4 and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs;

Each of the seven lambs is to be accompanied by a grain offering, one-tenth of an ephah of flour mixed with oil. The careful allotment of grain offerings underscores the importance of detail in worship, showing that nothing should be done haphazardly when it comes to honoring God.

Numbers 29:5 (NKJV)
5 also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, to make atonement for you;

In addition to the burnt and grain offerings, a sin offering of a goat is included. This offering is intended for the atonement of the people, highlighting the need for purification from sin, even during times of celebration and worship.

Numbers 29:6 (NKJV)
6 besides the burnt offering with its grain offering for the New Moon, the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, as a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord.

This verse highlights that the specific offerings for the Feast of Trumpets are in addition to the regular offerings for the New Moon. These consistent sacrifices, along with their accompanying grain and drink offerings, are pleasing to the Lord. The repetition of offerings emphasizes the regularity and dedication required in worship.

Numbers 29:7-8 (NKJV)
7 ‘On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall afflict your souls; you shall not do any work.
8 You shall present a burnt offering to the Lord as a sweet aroma: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year. Be sure they are without blemish.

The tenth day of the seventh month marks the Day of Atonement, a solemn day of fasting and repentance. The people are to afflict their souls, symbolizing humility and penitence. Once again, specific offerings are prescribed, with an emphasis on purity and careful preparation to seek God's forgiveness.

Numbers 29:9-11 (NKJV)
9 Their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for one ram,
10 and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs;
11 also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, besides the sin offering for atonement, the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

These verses describe the accompanying grain and sin offerings that must be made on the Day of Atonement. In addition to the primary sin offering, the people are to offer regular burnt offerings and drink offerings. This reflects the deep layers of atonement and devotion required to approach God in purity.

Numbers 29:12-13 (NKJV)
12 ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work, and you shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days.
13 You shall present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a sweet aroma to the Lord: thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs in their first year. They shall be without blemish.

The Feast of Tabernacles begins on the fifteenth day and lasts for seven days. The Israelites are commanded to make no work but to focus on worship. On the first day, significant offerings, including thirteen bulls and fourteen lambs, are to be made. These offerings symbolize the importance of dedication and community worship during this festive time.

Numbers 29:14 (NKJV)
14 Their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths for each of the two rams,

As with other offerings, the burnt offerings for the Feast of Tabernacles are accompanied by grain offerings. These grain offerings represent the people’s acknowledgment of God’s provision and their gratitude, as they continue the structured worship throughout the feast.

Numbers 29:15 (NKJV)
15 and one-tenth for each of the fourteen lambs;

For the fourteen lambs offered, the grain portion of one-tenth is also included. The detailed instructions reflect the Israelites' care in their worship practices, recognizing that each aspect of the offering is important to show reverence to God.

Numbers 29:16 (NKJV)
16 also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

In addition to the large-scale burnt and grain offerings, a goat is offered as a sin offering, reminding the people that even in the midst of celebration, they must maintain a focus on atonement and purity. The regular offerings of grain and drink are also part of this consistent act of worship.

Numbers 29:17-19 (NKJV)
17 ‘On the second day present twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs in their first year without blemish,
18 and their grain offering and drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance;
19 also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

On the second day of the feast, twelve bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs are offered, similar to the previous day’s offerings but with a reduced number of bulls. This decrease continues daily. The continued sin offering of the goat and regular burnt offerings reinforces the theme of atonement amid celebration.

Numbers 29:20-22 (NKJV)
20 ‘On the third day present eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs in their first year without blemish,
21 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance;
22 also one goat as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

On the third day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the offerings continue with eleven bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs. Each day’s offerings are an act of reverence, showing the gradual reduction in bulls but maintaining the other components of the sacrifice, including the grain, drink, and sin offerings.

Numbers 29:23-25 (NKJV)
23 ‘On the fourth day present ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs in their first year without blemish,
24 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance;
25 also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

On the fourth day of the feast, the offerings further reduce to ten bulls, with the rest of the offerings remaining the same. This structured decrease demonstrates that each day's worship builds on the last, maintaining a balance of gratitude, atonement, and devotion across the feast.

Numbers 29:26-28 (NKJV)
26 ‘On the fifth day present nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs in their first year without blemish,
27 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance;
28 also one goat as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

The pattern continues on the fifth day of the feast, with the number of bulls decreasing to nine, while the rams, lambs, grain offerings, and drink offerings remain consistent. The daily repetition of these offerings emphasizes the importance of structured and continuous worship throughout the seven-day celebration.

Numbers 29:29-31 (NKJV)
29 ‘On the sixth day present eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs in their first year without blemish,
30 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance;
31 also one goat as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

On the sixth day, eight bulls are offered, continuing the gradual decrease in the number of bulls each day. This steady decline signals the nearing conclusion of the feast, yet the rams, lambs, and other offerings stay the same, ensuring that reverence and celebration are consistent throughout.

Numbers 29:32-34 (NKJV)
32 ‘On the seventh day present seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs in their first year without blemish,
33 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance;
34 also one goat as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

The seventh day of the feast culminates with seven bulls, symbolizing completeness. The repetition of offerings with consistent grain and drink portions and the sin offering highlights the commitment to atonement and obedience to God’s commands during the entire festival period.

Numbers 29:35-38 (NKJV)
35 ‘On the eighth day you shall have a sacred assembly. You shall do no customary work.
36 You shall present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a sweet aroma to the Lord: one bull, one ram, seven lambs in their first year without blemish,
37 and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance;
38 also one goat as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

The eighth day marks a sacred assembly, a time to conclude the festival with a final set of offerings, which includes a bull, ram, seven lambs, and a goat for a sin offering. The assembly and rest from work on this day signify the closure of the feast, leaving the people spiritually renewed.

Numbers 29:39 (NKJV)
39 ‘These you shall present to the Lord at your appointed feasts, besides your vowed offerings and your freewill offerings, as your burnt offerings and your grain offerings, as your drink offerings and your peace offerings.’”

The chapter concludes with a reminder that these offerings are additional to the personal vows and freewill offerings that individuals might choose to make. This reinforces that worship is not just about obligatory rituals but also about voluntary acts of devotion, symbolizing a personal relationship with God.

Numbers 29:40 (NKJV)
40 So Moses told the children of Israel everything, just as the Lord commanded Moses.

Moses faithfully delivers the Lord’s commands to the children of Israel. This verse emphasizes his role as a mediator between God and the people. His obedience in conveying God’s instructions ensures that the Israelites know precisely how to worship and follow the required sacrificial practices. It highlights the importance of adhering to divine guidance for communal and individual spiritual life.