Bible Commentaries
Numbers 29

Introduction

Overview

Numbers 29:1, The offering at the feast of trumpets; Numbers 29:7, at the day of afflicting their souls; Numbers 29:12, and on the eight days of the feast of tabernacles.

Verse 1

the seventh: That is, the month Tisri, the seventh month of their ecclesiastical year, but the first of their civil year, answering to our September. This, which was their new year's day, was a time of great festivity, and ushered in by the blowing of trumpets; whence it was also called the feast of blowing the trumpets. In imitation of this Jewish festival, different nations began the new year with sacrifices and festivity. The ancient Egyptians did so; and the Persians also celebrated their nawee rooz, or new year's day, which they held on the vernal equinox, and which "lasted ten days, during which all ranks seemed to participate in one general joy. The rich sent presents to the poor; all were dressed in their holiday clothes; all kept open house; and religious processions, music, dancing, a species of theatrical exhibition, rustic sports, and other pastimes, presented a continued round of varied amusement. Even the dead, and the ideal beings were not forgotten; rich viands being placed on the tops of houses and high towers, on the flavour of which the Peris, and spirits of their departed heroes and friends, were supposed to feast." After the Mohammedan conquest of Persia, the celebration of this period sensibly declined, and at last totally ceased, till the time of Jelaladdin - about ad 1082 who, coming to the crown at the vernal equinox, re-established the ancient festival, which has ever since been celebrated with pomp and acclamations. Leviticus 23:24, Leviticus 23:25, Ezra 3:6, Nehemiah 7:73

the first day of the month: The monthly sacrifices were regulated by the new moons; and it is probable that the solemn sacrifices were appointed by God, to prevent the idolatry which was usual among the heathen at this period; who expressed the most extravagant rejoicings on the first appearance of the new moon. Moses, however, used the return of the moon only as one of the most natural and convenient measures of time; and appointed sacrifices to Jehovah, to prevent the Israelites from falling into the idolatries of their heathen neighbours. In the serene climate of Arabia and Judea, its first faint crescent is, for the most part, visible to all.

blowing: Numbers 10:1-10, 1 Chronicles 15:28, Psalms 81:3, Psalms 89:15, Isaiah 27:13, Zechariah 9:14, Mark 16:15, Mark 16:16, Romans 10:14-18, Romans 15:16-19

Reciprocal: Exodus 12:16 - first day Numbers 10:10 - in the day Numbers 15:3 - in your Numbers 28:25 - ye shall do 2 Chronicles 31:3 - for the new moons Ezra 3:1 - the seventh Nehemiah 8:2 - the first Nehemiah 8:9 - This day

Verse 2

Numbers 29:8, Numbers 29:36, Numbers 28:19, Numbers 28:27, Hebrews 10:10-14

Reciprocal: Numbers 15:3 - in your Numbers 29:13 - thirteen young bullocks Ezra 3:5 - the continual

Verse 3

Reciprocal: Numbers 29:18 - after the manner

Verse 4

Reciprocal: Numbers 29:18 - after the manner

Verse 5

Numbers 28:15, Numbers 28:22, Numbers 28:30

Reciprocal: Leviticus 4:23 - a kid Ezekiel 45:23 - a burnt

Verse 6

the burnt: Numbers 28:11-15

the daily: Numbers 28:3-8, Exodus 29:38-42, Leviticus 6:9

according: Numbers 29:18, Numbers 29:21, Numbers 9:14, Numbers 15:11, Numbers 15:12, Numbers 15:24, Ezra 3:4

Reciprocal: Numbers 15:9 - a meat Numbers 28:10 - the continual Numbers 29:11 - the continual Joel 1:13 - for Hebrews 10:11 - daily

Verse 7

on the tenth: Leviticus 16:29-31, Leviticus 23:27

afflict: Leviticus 16:29, Ezra 8:21, Psalms 35:13, Psalms 126:5, Psalms 126:6, Isaiah 22:12, Isaiah 58:3-5, Zechariah 7:3, Zechariah 12:10, Matthew 5:4, Luke 13:3, Luke 13:5, Acts 27:9, Romans 6:6, 1 Corinthians 9:27, 2 Corinthians 7:9-11, James 4:8-10

Reciprocal: Leviticus 16:3 - a young Leviticus 16:34 - an everlasting Numbers 30:13 - to afflict Daniel 10:12 - chasten Hebrews 10:3 - a remembrance

Verse 8

without blemish: Numbers 29:2, Numbers 29:13, Numbers 28:19

Reciprocal: Leviticus 1:3 - a burnt Numbers 15:3 - in your Ezra 3:5 - the continual

Verse 9

Numbers 15:3-12

Reciprocal: Numbers 29:18 - after the manner

Verse 10

Reciprocal: Numbers 28:12 - General Numbers 29:18 - after the manner

Verse 11

beside: Leviticus 16:3, Leviticus 16:5, Leviticus 16:9, Isaiah 53:10, Daniel 9:24-26, Hebrews 7:27, Hebrews 9:25-28

the continual: Numbers 29:6, Numbers 28:3-8

Reciprocal: Leviticus 4:23 - a kid Numbers 28:10 - the continual Numbers 29:16 - General Numbers 29:19 - General Numbers 29:25 - General

Verse 12

the fifteenth day: This was the feast of Tabernacles, kept in commemoration of their dwelling in tents in the wilderness for forty years. The first and last days were to be kept as sabbaths, on which there were solemn assemblies; and for seven days sacrifices were offered. On the other festivals, two bullocks sufficed - Numbers 28:11, Numbers 28:19, Numbers 28:27, and on the festival at the beginning of this month, only one was appointed; but, on the first day of this festival, thirteen young bullocks were appointed; and so on each successive day, with the decrease of only one bullock, till on the seventh day, there were only seven, making in all seventy bullocks. The lambs, and the rams also, were in a double proportion to the number sacrificed at any other festival. This was an expensive service; but more easy at this time of the year than any other, as Bishop Patrick observes, because now their barns were full, and their wine-presses overflowed; and their hearts might well be supposed to be more enlarged than at other times, in thankfulness to God for the multitude of his mercies. The Jewish doctors give this reason for the daily diminution of the number of the bullocks: the whole number, say they, was according to the languages of the seventy nations of the world; and the diminution of one every day signified, that there should be a gradual diminution of those nations till all things were brought under the government of the Messiah; in whose days "no sacrifices shall remain, but those of thanksgiving, prayer, and praise." Exodus 23:16, Exodus 34:22, Leviticus 23:33-43, Deuteronomy 16:13, Deuteronomy 16:14, Nehemiah 8:14, Nehemiah 8:18, Ezekiel 45:25, Zechariah 14:16-19, John 1:14, Hebrews 11:9-13

Reciprocal: Exodus 10:9 - a feast Exodus 12:16 - first day Leviticus 23:34 - The fifteenth Leviticus 23:36 - Seven Leviticus 23:41 - General Numbers 28:25 - ye shall do Deuteronomy 16:15 - Seven days Judges 21:19 - a feast 1 Kings 8:2 - at the feast 1 Kings 12:32 - like unto 2 Chronicles 7:8 - kept Ezra 3:4 - the daily John 7:2 - General John 7:14 - the midst

Verse 13

thirteen young bullocks: Numbers 29:2, Numbers 29:8, Numbers 28:11, Numbers 28:19, Numbers 28:27, Ezra 3:4, Hebrews 10:12-14, At this feast thirteen bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs, were to be offered. It is worthy of remark, that in each of the seven days of this feast one bullock is to be abated, so that on the seventh day - Numbers 29:32 they were to offer seven bullocks, but the rams and lambs were every day alike; which appointment might signify a diminishing and wearing away of the legal offerings, to lead them to the spiritual and reasonable service, by presenting their own bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto God. Romans 12:1

Reciprocal: Leviticus 1:3 - a burnt Numbers 15:3 - in your Numbers 29:17 - General Ezra 3:5 - the continual John 7:14 - the midst

Verse 16

Numbers 29:11

Reciprocal: Exodus 29:40 - a drink Leviticus 4:23 - a kid Numbers 28:10 - the continual

Verse 17

Numbers 29:13, Numbers 29:20-40, Psalms 40:6, Psalms 50:8, Psalms 50:9, Psalms 51:16, Psalms 51:17, Psalms 69:31, Isaiah 1:11, Jeremiah 7:22, Jeremiah 7:23, Hosea 6:6, Romans 12:1, Hebrews 8:13, Hebrews 9:3-14

Reciprocal: John 7:14 - the midst

Verse 18

after the manner: That is, after the manner already prescribed. Numbers 29:3, Numbers 29:4, Numbers 29:6, Numbers 29:9, Numbers 29:10, Numbers 15:4-12, Numbers 28:7, Numbers 28:14

Reciprocal: Numbers 29:21 - after the manner

Verse 19

Numbers 29:11, Numbers 29:22, Numbers 29:25, Amos 8:14

Reciprocal: Leviticus 4:23 - a kid Numbers 28:10 - the continual

Verse 20

Reciprocal: Numbers 29:17 - General John 7:14 - the midst

Verse 21

after the manner: Numbers 29:18

Reciprocal: Numbers 29:6 - according

Verse 22

drink offering: Psalms 16:4, Joel 1:9, Joel 1:13, Joel 2:14

Reciprocal: Numbers 28:10 - the continual Numbers 29:19 - General

Verse 25

Numbers 29:11, John 8:31, Acts 13:43, Romans 2:7, Galatians 2:5, Galatians 6:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:13, Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 10:39, Hebrews 13:15

Reciprocal: Numbers 28:10 - the continual Numbers 29:19 - General

Verse 31

Reciprocal: Leviticus 9:15 - General Numbers 28:10 - the continual

Verse 32

Reciprocal: Numbers 23:1 - seven oxen Numbers 29:13 - thirteen young bullocks 1 Chronicles 15:26 - bullocks Jeremiah 28:16 - this year

Verse 34

Reciprocal: Numbers 28:10 - the continual

Verse 35

eighth day: Though this day was properly a distinct festival, and esteemed the chief or high day of the feast, yet fewer sacrifices are appointed for it than for any of the foregoing seven. On every one of them two rams and fourteen lambs were offered; but on this day there were but half as many; and whereas seven bullocks were the fewest that were offered on any of those days, on this there was only one. At this feast, there was an extraordinary ceremony of which the rabbins inform us, namely, the drawing water out of the pool of Siloam, and pouring it, mixed with wine, on the sacrifice as it lay on the altar. This they are said to have done with such expressions of joy, that it became a common proverb, "He that never saw the rejoicing of drawing of water, never saw rejoicing in all his life." The Jews pretend to ground this custom on the following passage of Isaiah - Isaiah 12:3, "With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation;" and to this ceremony Jesus is supposed to refer, when "in the last day, the great day of the feast, he stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink: he that believeth on me, as the Scripture saith, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" - John 7:37, John 7:38, thereby calling off the people from their carnal mirth and festive and pompous ceremonies, to seek spiritual refreshment for their minds. Leviticus 23:36, John 7:37-39, Revelation 7:9-17

Reciprocal: Numbers 28:25 - ye shall do 1 Samuel 7:6 - drew water Nehemiah 8:18 - according

Verse 36

Reciprocal: Numbers 29:2 - General

Verse 38

Reciprocal: Numbers 28:10 - the continual

Verse 39

do: or, offer

in your set feasts: It appears from the account in these two chapters, that there were annually offered to God, at the public charge, independently of a prodigious number of voluntary, vow, and trespass offerings, 15 goats, 21 kids, 72 rams, 132 bullocks, and 1,101 lambs. But how little is all this compared with the lambs slain every year at the passover. Cestius, the Roman general, asked the priests how many persons had come to Jerusalem at their annual festivals: the priests, numbering the people by the lambs that had been slain, said, "twenty-five myriads, 5,000, and 600." Leviticus 23:2, 1 Chronicles 23:31, 2 Chronicles 31:3, Ezra 3:5, Nehemiah 10:33, Isaiah 1:14

beside your vows: Numbers 6:21, Leviticus 7:11, Leviticus 7:16-38, Leviticus 22:21-23, Leviticus 23:28, Deuteronomy 12:6, 1 Corinthians 10:31

Reciprocal: Leviticus 23:38 - and beside Numbers 28:10 - the continual 2 Chronicles 31:14 - the freewill Psalms 119:108 - Accept Ezekiel 46:12 - a voluntary

Verse 40

Exodus 40:16, Deuteronomy 4:5, Matthew 28:20, Acts 20:27, 1 Corinthians 15:3, Hebrews 3:2, Hebrews 3:5

Reciprocal: Numbers 7:15 - General Numbers 9:5 - according 1 Chronicles 23:31 - set feasts 2 Chronicles 2:4 - the solemn feasts 2 Chronicles 8:13 - every day 2 Chronicles 24:14 - And they offered Ezra 6:9 - lambs Nehemiah 10:33 - the continual burnt Isaiah 1:13 - the new Ezekiel 44:24 - in all Ezekiel 45:17 - in the feasts Ezekiel 46:11 - in the feasts Galatians 4:10 - General Colossians 2:16 - of an