Bible Commentaries
Numbers 29

Verses 1-6

NUMBERS - TWENTY-NINE

Verses 1-6:

The seventh month (Tishri) corresponds to September-October of today’s calendar. It was the time of the Feast of Trumpets, one of Israel’s most solemn festivals, see Le 23:23-25. The Burnt Offering for this occasion was the same as for the new moon offering (Nu 28:11) except that only one bullock was required at the Feast of Trumpets.

See comments on Le 23:23-25 for a description of this festival.

Verses 7-11

Verses 7-11:

The tenth day of the seventh month was Yom Kippur, the Great Day of Atonement, Le 16:29-34; 23:27-32, q.v. In addition to the sacrifices specified in these passages, a Burnt Offering (Le 1) was to be offered, consisting of one young bullock, one ram, and seven year-old lambs. Accompanying these sacrifices were the prescribed Meat (food) Offerings and Drink Offerings.

No work of any kind was to be performed on this solemn day. It was a day of fasting, not of feasting.

Verses 12-15

Verses 12-15:

The fifteenth day of the seventh month was the Feast of Tabernacles (booths), Le 23:33-43; De 16:13-15, q.v.

This text prescribes the sacrifices to be offered on each of the seven days of this week. This was the most elaborate and expensive of Israel’s three major annual feasts, see Ex 23:14-17; De 16:16. It was the feast of- harvest, commemorating God’s bountiful provision. The hearts of the people were filled with gladness, and there was food in ample supply. Hence the profusion of burnt offerings, especially of the most expensive kind.

The Burnt Offerings of this week varied from those of other times, in the quantity of bulls to be offered. The other sacrifices remained the same each day.

On the first day, thirteen bulls were offered. One less was offered each of the seven days. On the seventh day, seven bulls were sacrificed. The total number of bulls offered during this time: seventy.

Accompanying the bulls, there were also daily offerings of two rams, fourteen year-old lambs, and Meat (food) Offerings consisting of flour mingled with oil, Le chapter 2. No Drink Offerings were made with any of these sacrifices, as was the case with other offerings.

In addition to the Burnt Offerings and the Meat Offerings, a Sin Offering of one kid of the goats was to be sacrificed, along with the prescribed Meat (food) and Drink Offerings, see Le 4:22-26.

Verses 17-19

Verses 17-19:

The sacrifices of the second day of the Feast was the same as for the first, with one exception: twelve bulls were sacrificed.

Verses 20-22

Verses 20-22:

Eleven bullocks were offered on the third day of the Feast, along with the other prescribed sacrifices.

Verses 23-25

Verses 23-25:

The fourth day of the Feast, ten bulls were sacrificed, along with the other offerings of animals, food, and drink.

Verses 26-28

Verses 26-28:

The fifth day, nine bulls along with the rams, lambs, and food offerings, were sacrificed according to the prescribed ritual.

Verses 29-31

Verses 29-31:

Eight bullocks were sacrificed on the sixth day of the Feast, along with the other prescribed offerings.

Verses 32-34

Verses 32-34:

On the seventh day of the Feast, seven bulls were sacrificed along with the other prescribed offerings.

The totals of the various sacrifices during this week were: (1) Bulls: seventy.

(2) Rams: fourteen.

(3) Lambs: ninety-eight.

(4) Goats: seven.

(5) Flour, mingled with oil: 33.6 ephahs, about 20.16 bushels (dry measure), or 201.6 gallons (liquid measure). This does not include the flour offered along with the goats for the Sin Offering.

The declining quantities of these offerings symbolize the gradual fading of the high emotion of the initial festive joy to the daily gladness of a thankful spirit.

Verses 35-40

Verses 35-40:

The Feast of Tabernacles closed with a solemn convocation on the eighth day, the twenty-second day of the seventh month, Tishri. No "servile" (menial) work was to be performed on that holy day. Sacrifices offered on that day were:

(1) Burnt Offering, consisting of one bullock one ram, and seven year-old lambs, Le Nu 1.

(2) Meat Offering, consisting of the prescribed quantities of flour, Le chapter 2.

(3) Drink Offerings, Le 23:13.

These offerings were to be in addition to those regularly offered, regarding sin, peace, vows, freewill offerings, etc., prescribed in Leviticus, Nu chapters 15, 27, et. al.

Offerings commanded in this Nu include (approximate):

(1) Lambs: 1,071.

(2) Bulls: 113.

(3) Rams: 37.

(4) Goats: 30.

(5) Flour: 112 bushels.

(6) Wine: 340 gallons, if the proportions of drink are consistent with the quantities of flour.

These offerings were not totally burned nor otherwise destroyed or wasted. Portions of the animals, as well as the flour and wine, were designated as food for the priests. This illustrates God’s provision for those who serve about His holy things, see 1Co 9:1-13.