King James Version
The Book of Numbers
Chapter 28
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Commentary
Numbers 28
Offerings are to be observed
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.
There seems to be a common interest that God holds significant with offerings. This one in particular is characterized as for a sweet savour unto God. It appears that an offering that results in a sweet savour unto the LORD is the only acceptable one. So, what is a sweet savour offering? tion to this charge.
3 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the Lord; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.
4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;
5 And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.
6 It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord.
7 And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the Lord for a drink offering.
8 And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.
I still wonder why God is always so very specific about how and what to sacrifice as an acceptable offering unto Him. Could it be that if God didn’t make such precise requirements that the People would likely offer just any ‘ol thing, and that it would likely come down to offering their leftovers or scraps? Is it that God wants a practice to develop that will charge the hearts of man to offer only the best, and not just to God directly, but also to each other, as even unto God?
The offering on the sabbath
9 And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof:
10 This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
11 And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the Lord; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;
12 And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram;
13 And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord.
14 And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.
15 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the Lord shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
As it is described here, on the special occasions, God wants us to reach even deeper for an extra special offering. Clearly, in order for these People to be able to meet such high demands for an offering unto the LORD, somebody must have plenty more than is needed for his own personal needs. It is also seemingly clear that not everyone is in such “financial” comfort among the camp.
Of a certainty, God will not permit it that the same group of people would come forth each time there is a sacrificial offering, to be the only ones providing the animals. It is a barter system that occurs among the people so that everyone has something to offer. Not just anything will do, however. What is offered must be of the best of the herd, or flock, etc.
Not only is God requiring the very best and first of all of their possessions, He is also requiring that we work together so that EVERYONE offers their best; their VERY best. This will result in a kinship, a unity, a strong bond for the People. These sacrifice rituals were not simply “thought up” by God so that He can fulfill some sort of sick fetish for killing animals. God created these animals and it is to Him that they will return. In offering the best of the animals to God, it is like saying, “we need this for our survival, LORD, but we recognize that it is of the highest quality, and so we offer it up to You, to do with what You will. We will make do with second, or third best. Only the best for you, o God.”
On the observance of the passover
16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the Lord.
17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.
18 In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:
19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the Lord; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:
20 And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram;
21 A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.
23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.
24 After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
25 And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.
26 Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the Lord, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:
27 But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the Lord; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year;
28 And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram,
29 A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs;
30 And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you.
31 Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.
Num 28:1-31 (KJV)
