This chapter tells us about the offerings that were to be made by fire to the Lord in three different and separate ceremonies. The first is the feast of trumpets which happens on the first day of the month. The second is the day of atonement on the 10th day of the month. The final one is the feast of Tabernacle‘s on the 15th day of the month and this one lasts for a whole week.
The Festival of Trumpets
1 “‘On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. 2 As an aroma pleasing to the Lord, offer a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 3 With the bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah[a] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil; with the ram, two-tenths[b]; 4 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.[c] 5 Include one male goat as a sin offering[d] to make atonement for you. 6 These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are food offerings presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma.
The seventh month has more ceremonies than any other month of the year. It is not only because it’s the first month since the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt but also because it is the first month in the reckonings of the jubilees and years of release. It was also the time of relaxation between harvest and seed time. They had the most spare time during this season to spend in God‘s presence in the sanctuary. The best way to spend our free time is to spend it in the presence of God and God was training them by establishing this president in their lives. It is important to note that God did not excuse them from their regular offerings – these were in addition to the regular ones.
The festival of trumpets signifies the issuance of revelation and a call for Israel to gather for God’s word of redemption. It was set at the time of their final agricultural harvest and this day also symbolizes the Lord’s final harvest of souls in Christianity.
The Day of Atonement
7 “‘On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves[e] and do no work. 8 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 9 With the bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; 10 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. 11 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
The day of atonement is also called Yom Kippur. It is the holiest day of the Jewish year. It’s the day of atonement after the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah. On this day the Israelites are to ask God for forgiveness of their sins and this is what the sacrifices are for. These sacrifices are always to be without blemish, the best of the best. A perfect and unblemished sacrifice is the only worthy sacrifice that will be accepted to cover sin. This is why the ultimate sacrifice had to be Gods son, Jesus.
The Festival of Tabernacles
12 “‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days. 13 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 14 With each of the thirteen bulls offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with each of the two rams, two-tenths; 15 and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth. 16 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
17 “‘On the second day offer twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 18 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 19 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
20 “‘On the third day offer eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 21 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 22 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
23 “‘On the fourth day offer ten bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 24 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 25 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
26 “‘On the fifth day offer nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 27 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 28 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
29 “‘On the sixth day offer eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 30 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 31 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
32 “‘On the seventh day offer seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 33 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 34 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
35 “‘On the eighth day hold a closing special assembly and do no regular work. 36 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 37 With the bull, the ram and the lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 38 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
39 “‘In addition to what you vow and your freewill offerings, offer these to the Lord at your appointed festivals: your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings.’”
After the day of atonement, which is a solemn and serious day, the Israelites were instructed to rejoice before the Lord. This was a celebration, a rejoicing now that they were cleansed of their sins. This was a time of great worship to the Lord. These days of rejoicing were also to be days of sacrifices. The main difference between each days sacrifice was really only in the number of the animals being sacrificed. God was teaching them to observe very exact details so that they would be mindful to keep an eye on their faith in their every day work. As long as they performed these sacrifices with an upright and clean heart it would be acceptable to God.
We should be mindful to remember to rejoice that God has forgiven our sins. He never grows tired of our thankfulness to him. We should remember to always worship him with a joyful and thankful heart.
40 Moses told the Israelites all that the Lord commanded him.[f]
Footnotes
- Numbers 29:3 That is, probably about 11 pounds or about 5 kilograms; also in verses 9 and 14
- Numbers 29:3 That is, probably about 7 pounds or about 3.2 kilograms; also in verses 9 and 14
- Numbers 29:4 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms; also in verses 10 and 15
- Numbers 29:5 Or purification offering; also elsewhere in this chapter
- Numbers 29:7 Or must fast
- Numbers 29:40 In Hebrew texts this verse (29:40) is numbered 30:1.
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