Numbers 28

Daily Sacrifice

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "Command the {Israelites} and say to them, '{You will be careful to present} my offering, my food of my offerings made by fire, of a fragrance of appeasement to me, at its appointed time.'
3 You will say to them, 'This [is] the offering made by fire that you will offer to Yahweh: two male lambs without defect {in their first year} as a continual burnt offering each day.
4 You will offer one male lamb in the morning, and the second male lamb you will offer {at twilight},
5 and a tenth of an ephah of finely milled flour as a grain offering, mixed with a fourth of a measure of beaten oil.
6 It is a continual burnt offering that was {ordained} on Mount Sinai as a fragrance of appeasement, an offering made by fire for Yahweh.
7 The libation with it [will be] a fourth of a liquid measure for each male lamb; in the sanctuary you will pour out the libation of fermented drink for Yahweh.
8 And the second male lamb you will offer {at twilight}; as the grain offering of the morning and as its libation you will offer it, an offering made by fire, a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh.
9 " 'On the day of the Sabbath, two male lambs without defect {in their first year}, and two-tenths of finely milled flour mixed with oil [for] a grain offering and its libation.
10 [This is] the burnt offering every Sabbath [in addition to] the continual burnt offering and its libation.
11 " 'And at the beginning of each of your months, you will present a burnt offering for Yahweh: two bulls and one ram, seven male lambs without defect {in their first year};
12 and three-tenths of finely milled flour mixed with oil [for] a grain offering, for each bull; and two-tenths of finely milled flour mixed with oil [for] a grain offering for the one ram;
13 and a tenth of finely milled flour mixed with oil [as] a grain offering for each male lamb, for a burnt offering of a fragrance of appeasement, an offering of fire for Yahweh.
14 Their libations will be half a liquid measure of wine for the bull and a third of a liquid measure of wine for the ram and a fourth of a liquid measure of wine for the male lamb; this [is] the burnt offering for every month for the months of the year.
15 And one male goat as a sin offering for Yahweh; it will be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation.
16 " 'On the fourteenth day of the first month [is] the Passover for Yahweh.
17 On the fifteenth day of this month [is] a religious feast, unleavened bread must be eaten for seven days.
18 On the first day [there will be] a holy convocation; {you will not do any regular work}.
19 You will present an offering by fire, a burnt offering for Yahweh: two bulls and one ram and seven male lambs {in their first year}; they will be for you without defect.
20 For their grain offering, you will offer finely milled flour mixed with oil: three-tenths for the bull and two-tenths for the ram.
21 You will offer a tenth for each of the seven male lambs;
22 and a goat for one sin offering to make atonement for you.
23 You will offer these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which [is] for the continual burnt offering.
24 Like this you will offer daily, for seven days, [the] food of the offering made by fire, a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh; it will be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering and its libation.
25 On the seventh day you will have a holy convocation; {you will not do any regular work}.

Offerings for the Festival of Weeks

26 " 'And on the day of firstfruits, when you are presenting a new offering for Yahweh during your Festival of Weeks, you will have a holy convocation; {you will not do any regular work}.
27 You will present a burnt offering for a fragrance of appeasement for Yahweh: two bulls, one ram, seven male lambs {in their first year};
28 and their grain offering will be finely milled flour mixed with oil: three-tenths for each bull, two-tenths for one ram,
29 a tenth for each of the male lambs;
30 and one male goat to make atonement for you.
31 In addition to the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, you will offer [them] without defect with their libation.

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 13

  • [a]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
  • [b]. Literally "you will observe to present"
  • [c]. Literally "sons of a year"
  • [d]. Literally "between the two evenings"
  • [e]. Literally "done"
  • [f]. Literally "between the two evenings"
  • [g]. Literally "sons of a year"
  • [h]. Literally "sons of a year"
  • [i]. Literally "you will not do work of labor"
  • [j]. Literally "sons of a year"
  • [k]. Literally "you will not do work of labor"
  • [l]. Literally "you will not do work of labor"
  • [m]. Literally "sons of a year"

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.

Numbers 28 Commentaries

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.