Num. 28:1–29:40 While he lives, Moses still gives God’s law to Israel. First among his final instructions are laws about public sacrifices (compare Ex. 23:10–19; 34:18–26; Leviticus 23; Deut. 16:1–17). The regulations make several points: (1) They show the importance of the sacrificial system in Israel. These sacrifices must be offered daily on behalf of the whole nation. (2) They assure Joshua that the nation will become prosperous enough to provide for this expensive worship. (3) They show the importance of the Sabbath. Every seventh day is a Sabbath, and the number of sacrifices doubles on those days. The seventh month is marked by a huge number of extra sacrifices, especially during the Feast of Booths. That feast is clearly the biggest celebration of the year.
Num. 28:1–8 Pleasing (or “soothing”) aroma is a phrase used often to describe God’s acceptance of a sacrifice (see Gen. 8:21).
Num. 28:9–10 There are twice as many burnt offerings on the Sabbath as on other days of the week.
Num. 28:11–15 The Israelites celebrated the first day of each month, which was indicated by the new moon (see The Hebrew Calendar). As many sacrifices were offered then as at Passover or Pentecost (see vv. 16–31). It was an occasion for family worship (1 Sam. 20:5–6) and a day when commerce stopped (Amos 8:5).
Num. 28:16–25 The Feast of Unleavened bread immediately followed Passover, which is celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month (in late March or April).
Num. 28:17 Unleavened, that is, made without yeast (see Ex. 12:15–20).
Num. 28:18 Holy convocation is probably a gathering for worship. Ordinary work, literally, “work of labor.” This seems to be a milder ban than the rule for the Sabbath and the Day of Atonement, when absolutely no work was permitted (see Lev. 23:3, 28; Num. 29:7).
Num. 28:19–24 These sacrifices are to be offered on each of the seven days of unleavened bread.
Num. 28:26–31 The Feast of Weeks took place seven weeks after Passover. It coincided with the grain festival in Israel, so it is called the day of the firstfruits (see also Lev. 23:15–22). This description (Num. 28:1–29:40) requires one more bull and one less ram than the description in Leviticus.
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