Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Numbers 28:1-8
2). Provision for Future Worship in the Land And The Continuing Dedication of All Israel (Chapter s 28-30).
There could have been no better place for these Chapter s on Israel's response to Yahweh than here. It follows the sin at Baal Peor, the death of Zelophehad through sin, and the death of Moses through a failure in his dedication to Yahweh, and it follows them with a call to continually renew their dedication, and with a promise of continual forgiveness and purification.
This purifying and dedication of the new Israel parallels the call for the purification and dedication of the old Israel in Chapter s 5-10. There it was necessary if they were to consider entering into Yahweh's land, here it is seen to be gloriously fulfilled in the new Israel.
But above all this call for such offerings is a proclamation of the prosperous future that would be theirs on possession of the land. It follows the capture of huge amounts of cattle from Gilead and Bashan (Deuteronomy 2:35; Deuteronomy 3:7), together with land which would be settled on, in which they would already have found vineyards, cereal crops and olive trees, so that firstfruits would be produced as never before. From now on these ceremonies were to be conducted in their full glory, because at least some tribes were already prospering. This would have begun to happen very rapidly. Having taken the land of Sihon and the Amorites Reuben and Gad had decided that they wanted it, an event which probably preceded the defeat of Bashan (note how Manasseh come in later). The process of at first temporary possession and settlement was no doubt initially quite complicated, but we can be sure that it happened quickly. Yahweh had indicated from the very beginning that this was land to be possessed (Deuteronomy 2:31). Then part of the overcoming of Bashan resulted from Machir's recognition of the potential of the land (Numbers 32:40).
But it also underlines the certainty of the prosperity that would be theirs once all were in the land, for it reveals the offerings that they were to continually make once they were settled there. It is only the prosperous who could bring their offerings in such abundance as this. It was thus very much a message of hope and encouragement.
Note that the primary emphasis is on the whole burnt offering, the offering that ‘goes up', in these cases offered on behalf of the whole people (contrast Leviticus 1-2), the offering indicating wholehearted dedication, and thanksgiving and tribute, while also being underlaid by a recognition of the need for atonement. And it is continually accompanied by the necessary offering for the purification of sin. While therefore sin would trouble even the best of them, even a Moses, it was pointing out that it could be dealt with for the nation as a whole and put behind their backs because of the gracious provision God had made for them, as they continually rededicated themselves to Him at all their feasts. That is the message of what now follows. As in the stories of the numbering of Israel, of the daughters of Zelophehad and of the appointment of Joshua, these Chapter s are filled with hope and expectancy as they look to the future.
Thus what is mentioned here concentrates on Israel's dedication, tribute, worship and atonement as a people. In its quantities it magnifies all of these in readiness for the grand assault.
To us these feasts of Israel may appear a little boring, but they were not so to Israel. If we think so let us consider our own feast as we gather at the Lord's Table. Do we find that boring? If we do little more needs to be said. To the people of Israel, to whom every one of their feasts had a meaning and a significance, they spoke with a loud voice (and they blew their trumpets at them - Numbers 10:10). And the depth of offerings now required spoke even louder of a renewed and deeper dedication and a glorious future of prosperity and blessing.
We should note that these offerings described here were not the personal offerings described elsewhere (e.g. Leviticus 1-7). They were very much a part of the continual activity of the priests on behalf of the people. They were the backbone of the nations offerings. Apart from in Numbers 30 dealing with oaths (where they are assumed rather than mentioned) there is no thought here of the myriad of personal offerings that would be offered to Yahweh. Those have been dealt with in detail in Numbers 15 and in Leviticus 1-7. Here concentration is on the nation as a whole making their regular offerings through their representatives. This permanent determination to be dedicated to Yahweh as expressed in these Chapter s was equally as important to their moving forward as the numbering on the mobilisation of the army and the Levites in chapter 26. Without it the invasion could not take place.
These offerings are now dealt with as follows:
a The regular offerings; continual daily offerings and sabbath and new moon offerings (Numbers 28:1).
b Passover and the Seven Day Feast of Unleavened bread (Numbers 28:16).
c The One Day Feast of the Firstfruits (Numbers 28:26).
d The One Day Feast of the blowing of trumpets (Numbers 29:1).
c The One Day Feast of the Day of Atonement (Numbers 29:7).
b The Seven Day Feast of the Harvest Moon - Tabernacles and the final Solemn Sabbath (Numbers 29:12).
a The continual making and confirmation of vows (with their accompanying peace/wellbeing offerings - see Numbers 29:39) (30).
That the making of vows is a part of this overall pattern is confirmed by Numbers 29:39. The continual making of oaths was as much a sign of Israel's ongoing dedication as the continual daily offering (compare the Nazirite vows in Numbers 6:1). It is probable overall that we are to see Numbers 28:1 a and Numbers 29:39 as a kind of ‘envelope' containing the individual chiasma or sequences that follow. Thus while the making of oaths is a part of this series of dedicatory activity, it lies outside the envelope as a distinctive feature.
We should note in this respect how Deuteronomy 12:10 closely links offerings with vows. They went closely together in the Israelite mind.
Chapter 28 The Continual Daily Offerings, The Sabbath Offerings, The New Moon Offerings, The Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread, The Feast of Firstfruits (of Sevens).
There now follow information concerning the various feasts with emphasis on the regular priestly offerings.
The Continual Daily Offerings (Numbers 28:1).
The first offerings described, the continual daily offerings, underpin all the others. It is emphasised that all the others will be offered as well as these. Every day, both morning and late-afternoon (‘between the evenings'), the continual whole burnt offerings were to be offered to Yahweh. These each consisted of the offering of a he-lamb of the first year, accompanied by grain and drink offerings. They were an offering by fire to Yahweh, and would rise to Him, when offered on behalf of an obedient people, as a pleasing odour.
And it will be emphasised throughout what follows, that the festal offerings were additional to this daily offering, which had precedence. They were also additional to the special offerings which related to each particular feast.
a A command to offer an oblation as a pleasing odour to Yahweh (Numbers 28:1).
b The offering by fire to Yahweh of he-lambs of the first year, one each morning and one each late-afternoon each day, together with the grain offering (Numbers 28:3).
b The offering of the continual whole burnt offering which is an offering made by fire to Yahweh together with the drink offering (Numbers 28:5).
a The evening lamb to be offered as a pleasing odour to Yahweh (Numbers 28:8).
‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,'
As ever we are reminded that these things were spoken by Yahweh to Moses.
“ Command the children of Israel, and say to them, My oblation, my food for my offerings made by fire, of a pleasing odour to me, shall you observe to offer to me in their due season.”
This verse introduces the next two Chapter s which describe the pleasing offerings made to Yahweh, each in its due season, whether daily, weekly, monthly or at the particular feasts. The offerings made by fire were probably to be seen as ascending to Yahweh in the smoke of the offering which contained within it the essence of the offering. And it arose as something pleasing to Yahweh.
“My oblation, my food for my offerings made by fire, of a pleasing odour to me.” Compare Leviticus 3:11 ‘It is the food of the offering made by fire to Yahweh.' Note there the change from ‘a pleasing odour to Yahweh'. Here the two are combined. The sacrifice offered in loving obedience is all that He needs to satisfy Him as He joins in fellowship with His own. But the offering is consumed in the flames. God is not seen as feeding on it directly. His ‘food' is the pleasing odour, His spiritual satisfaction in the offering as He partakes of their obedience, love and gratitude. Parts of most of the other offerings apart from the whole burnt offerings were eaten, but they were eaten by the priests (and in some cases by the people). There was never any suggestion that God ate them.
“ And you shall say to them, This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to Yahweh, he-lambs a year old without blemish, two day by day, for a continual whole burnt offering. The one lamb shall you offer in the morning, and the other lamb shall you offer between the evenings,”
Each daily offering, morning and late afternoon/early evening, would be of a he-lamb, a year old and without blemish, together with its accompanying offerings. It was to be seen as a continual whole burnt offering, a constant renewal of Israel's dedication and gratitude to Yahweh, and means of atonement. And it was to be a year old and without blemish. It was day by day a continual reminder both to God and His people of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:5) which had revealed Yahweh as their Deliverer, and themselves as in need of mercy and protection. But the Passover lambs had also been a sign of faith as their blood was smeared on the doorposts and lintel. So every day these offerings, when offered in true faith on behalf of a believing people, said that in His judgments Yahweh would pass over them and they would be protected from all harm through the shed blood applied to the sides of the altar. But they were not to be partaken of, for their emphasis was on wholehearted response to God.
We too should look to Christ our Passover, offered for us once for all, and claim protection under His shed blood daily. Though He was offered once for all, we must come continually day by day to receive the continuing benefits of His death. If we walk in His light then the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, will go on cleansing us from all sin (1 John 1:7).
“ And the tenth part of an ephah of milled grain for a grain offering, mingled with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil.”
With it would be offered a measure of milled grain mingled with olive oil, as described. This grain offering, offered with the whole burnt offering, was an offering to Yahweh of what they had produced in response to His goodness in sending rain. It was a dedication of their labours and a thanksgiving offering, and a reminder to Him of their continuing need for rain in its season. For this offering continued throughout the year, summer and winter alike,
“ It is a continual whole burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a pleasing odour, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.”
And here it is confirmed that this offering of he-lambs and grain was one that was ordained on Mount Sinai (compare Exodus 29:38), to represent a continual dedication of Israel before God.
“ And its drink-offering shall be the fourth part of a hin for the one lamb. In the holy place you shall pour out a drink-offering of strong drink to Yahweh.”
It was also to be offered with a drink offering of strong drink (old matured wine?) which was to be poured out in the Holy Place. Thus within this offering were all the major benefits which they received from God. It represented their flocks and herds, their grain and fruit and the fruit of the vineyards that would be theirs once they were in the land.
“ And the other lamb shall you offer in the evening, as the grain offering of the morning, and as its drink-offering, you shall offer it, an offering made by fire, of a pleasing odour to Yahweh.”
The ‘evening' offering was to be offered in the same way as the morning offering. So each part of each day in the life of Israel was dedicated to Yahweh, and atoned for, as they offered their thanksgiving for all His provision.
This continual offering is a reminder to us that we too should come daily to God, morning and evening, yielding ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) and offering our continual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving (Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5).
As a comparison to all the offerings which will be described here the daily offering regularly presented at either of the two Ramesside temples in western Thebes in the thirteenth century BC amounted to 5,500 loaves, 54 cakes, 204 vessels of beer, up to 50 geese, and an ox, as well as a variety of other items. So the multitude of offerings described in Numbers 28-29 cannot be looked on as excessive.