Today, let’s take a look at a very easy-to-understand breakdown of all the sacrifices outlined in Numbers Chapter 28 and 29.
They are as follows:
EVERY DAY (28:3-8)
2 Lambs
EVERY SABBATH (28:9-10)
2 Lambs
EACH NEW MOON (28:11-15)
7 Lambs, 1 Ram, 2 Bulls, and 1 Goat
EACH DAY OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (28:16-25)
7 Lambs, 1 Ram, 2 Bulls, and 1 Goat
FEAST OF WEEKS (28:26-31)
7 Lambs, 1 Ram, 2 Bulls, and 1 Goat
NEW YEAR (29:1-6)
7 Lambs, 1 Ram, 1 Bull, and 1 Goat
YOM KIPPUR (29:7-11)
7 Lambs, 1 Ram, 1 Bull, and 1 Goat
1st of SUKKOT (29:12-16)
14 Lambs, 2 Rams, 13 Bulls, and 1 Goat
2nd of SUKKOT (29:17-19)
14 Lambs, 2 Rams, 12 Bulls, and 1 Goat
3rd of SUKKOT (29:20-22)
14 Lambs, 2 Rams, 11 Bulls, and 1 Goat
4th of SUKKOT (29:23-25)
14 Lambs, 2 Rams, 10 Bulls, and 1 Goat
5th of SUKKOT (29:26-28)
14 Lambs, 2 Rams, 9 Bulls, and 1 Goat
6th of SUKKOT (29:29-31)
14 Lambs, 2 Rams, 8 Bulls, and 1 Goat
7th of SUKKOT (29:32-34)
14 Lambs, 2 Rams, 7 Bulls, and 1 Goat
8th Day, ‘ATSERET (29:35-38)
1 Lamb, 1 Ram, 1 Bull, and 1 Goat
In order to better be able to wrap our head around what these sacrifices were all about, here are six characteristics to keep in mind.
FIRST, all of the offerings were “cumulative“!
What do I mean by that?
I mean that all of the offerings listed were to be offered in addition to and NOT in place of the normal daily offerings for the Sabbaths and festivals.
For example, if ROSH HASHANAH (New Year) fell on a sabbath, ALL of the following would be offered up:
-the daily offering
-the Sabbath offering
-the New Moon offering
-the New Year offering
SECOND, the calendar has been organized in descending order of frequency as follows:
-Daily
-the Sabbath
-the New Moon
However, the sacrifices for the festivals are in the normal order starting with PESACH (Passover).
THIRD, all of the sacrificial animals were MALE!
FOURTH, the order of the sacrifices presented is not actually the order in which they would have been sacrificed.
We are given a prescription here, NOT a description.
For instance, the Purification Offering would be have been sacrificed BEFORE the additional Burnt Offering.
FIFTH, you will notice that the number 7 and multiples of the number 7 appear frequently.
FINALLY, you will notice many other appearances of the Number 7 in the other rituals and feasts as follows:
-There are 7 Biblical festivals!
-The feast of Unleavened Bread and Sukkot occurs over a 7-day period!
-The 7th day of SHABBAT when no work is to be done!
-The many festivals that take place in the 7th Month of the Year (according to the Hebrew Calendar)!
-The number of Bulls sacrificed for Sukkot is 70 which is 7 times 10!
-The number of lambs sacrificed on Sukkot is 7 times 2 for a total of 14!
-The number of rams sacrificed on Sukkot is also 7 times 2 for a total of 14!
-The number of goats sacrificed is also 7!
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