Numbers 29:13-38

Thirteen young bullocks, two rams, &c.— On other festivals two bullocks sufficed; but here are no less than thirteen, and so they continued to be offered seven days successively, with a decrease only of one bullock every day, till, on the seventh day, only seven bullocks were offered, which, in all, made seventy bullocks. The rams also were in a double proportion to what was usual. This was a vast charge; but more easy at this time of the year than any other; for this was a time of leisure and plenty; their barns were full, their presses burst forth with new wine; and their hearts were enlarged with joy and thankfulness to God for the blessings of the harvest. Yet this troublesome and expensive service made their religion a very grievous yoke, under which the best men among them groaned, longing for the coming of the Messiah. Though the last day of the feast was the most solemn, (see Leviticus 23:36.) yet fewer victims are prescribed to be offered upon this day, than upon any of the foregoing; which served both to render the public worship less toilsome and expensive, and to put them in mind, that it was not the multitude of sacrifices which procured their acceptance with God, but the sacrifice of the heart; and that the day would come, when the most precious and costly sacrifices would be abolished, and give place to something far better. It is remarkable, that the offering for sin (Numbers 29:38.) is never omitted upon any festival, to remind them that they were all guilty before God, and that their best services stood in need of forgiveness. The Jews, unable at present to offer these additional sacrifices, in order to supply the deficiency, add to their ordinary prayers, at this season, extraordinary ones, morning, noon, and evening, which they call musaphim.