Numbers — Chapter 28

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1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2Command 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.

3And 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.

4The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;

5And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.

6It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.

7And 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.

8And 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.

9And 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:

10This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

11And 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;

12And 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;

13And 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.

14And 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.

15And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

16And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.

17And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.

18In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:

19But 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:

20And 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;

21A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

22And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.

23Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.

24After 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.

25And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.

26Also 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:

27But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year;

28And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram,

29A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs;

30And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you.

31Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.

1And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

2Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My oblation, my food for my offerings made by fire, of a sweet savor unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.

3And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto Jehovah: he-lambs a year old without blemish, two day by day, for a continual burnt-offering.

4The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;

5and the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil.

6It is a continual burnt-offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

7And the drink-offering thereof shall be the fourth part of a hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou pour out a drink-offering of strong drink unto Jehovah.

8And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meal-offering of the morning, and as the drink-offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.

9And on the sabbath day two he-lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenth parts [of an ephah] of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, and the drink-offering thereof:

10this is the burnt-offering of every sabbath, besides the continual burnt-offering, and the drink-offering thereof.

11And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt-offering unto Jehovah: two young bullocks, and one ram, seven he-lambs a year old without blemish;

12and three tenth parts [of an ephah] of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, for each bullock; and two tenth parts of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, for the one ram;

13and a tenth part of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering unto every lamb; for a burnt-offering of a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

14And their drink-offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bullock, and the third part of a hin for the ram, and the fourth part of a hin for a lamb: this is the burnt-offering of every month throughout the months of the year.

15And one he-goat for a sin-offering unto Jehovah; it shall be offered besides the continual burnt-offering, and the drink-offering thereof.

16And in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, is Jehovah`s passover.

17And on the fifteenth day of this month shall be a feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.

18In the first day shall be a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work;

19but ye shall offer an offering made by fire, a burnt-offering unto Jehovah: two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven he-lambs a year old; they shall be unto you without blemish;

20and their meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil: three tenth parts shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth parts for the ram;

21a tenth part shalt thou offer for every lamb of the seven lambs;

22and one he-goat for a sin-offering, to make atonement for you.

23Ye shall offer these besides the burnt-offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt-offering.

24After this manner ye shall offer daily, for seven days, the food of the offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah: it shall be offered besides the continual burnt-offering, and the drink-offering thereof.

25And on the seventh day ye shall have a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work.

26Also in the day of the first-fruits, when ye offer a new meal-offering unto Jehovah in your [feast of] weeks, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work;

27but ye shall offer a burnt-offering for a sweet savor unto Jehovah: two young bullocks, one ram, seven he-lambs a year old;

28and their meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil, three tenth parts for each bullock, two tenth parts for the one ram,

29a tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs;

30one he-goat, to make atonement for you.

31Besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, ye shall offer them (they shall be unto you without blemish), and their drink-offerings.

1The Lord spoke to Moses:

2“Command the Israelites: ‘With regard to my offering, be sure to offer my food for my offering made by fire, as a pleasing aroma to me at its appointed time.’

3You will say to them, ‘This is the offering made by fire that you must offer to the Lord: two unblemished lambs one year old each day for a continual burnt offering.

4The first lamb you must offer in the morning, and the second lamb you must offer in the late afternoon,

5with one-tenth of an ephah of finely ground flour as a grain offering mixed with one-quarter of a hin of pressed olive oil.

6It is a continual burnt offering that was instituted on Mount Sinai as a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord.

7“‘And its drink offering must be one-quarter of a hin for each lamb. You must pour out the strong drink as a drink offering to the Lord in the Holy Place.

8And the second lamb you must offer in the late afternoon; just as you offered the grain offering and drink offering in the morning, you must offer it as an offering made by fire, as a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

9“‘On the Sabbath day, you must offer two unblemished lambs a year old, and two-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour as a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, along with its drink offering.

10This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, besides the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.

11“‘On the first day of each month you must offer as a burnt offering to the Lord two young bulls, one ram, and seven unblemished lambs a year old,

12with three-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for each bull, and two-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for the ram,

13and one-tenth of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for each lamb, as a burnt offering for a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord.

14For their drink offerings, include half a hin of wine with each bull, one-third of a hin for the ram, and one-fourth of a hin for each lamb. This is the burnt offering for each month throughout the months of the year.

15And one male goat must be offered to the Lord as a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.

16“‘On the fourteenth day of the first month is the Lord’s Passover.

17And on the fifteenth day of this month is the festival. For seven days bread made without yeast must be eaten.

18And on the first day there is to be a holy assembly; you must do no ordinary work on it.

19“‘But you must offer to the Lord an offering made by fire, a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs one year old; they must all be unblemished.

20And their grain offering is to be of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil. For each bull you must offer three-tenths of an ephah, and two-tenths for the ram.

21For each of the seven lambs you are to offer one-tenth of an ephah,

22as well as one goat for a purification offering, to make atonement for you.

23You must offer these in addition to the burnt offering in the morning that is for a continual burnt offering.

24In this manner you must offer daily throughout the seven days the food of the sacrifice made by fire as a sweet aroma to the Lord. It is to be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.

25On the seventh day you are to have a holy assembly, you must do no regular work.

26“‘Also, on the day of the firstfruits, when you bring a new grain offering to the Lord during your Feast of Weeks, you are to have a holy assembly. You must do no ordinary work.

27But you must offer as the burnt offering, as a sweet aroma to the Lord, two young bulls, one ram, seven lambs one year old,

28with their grain offering of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each bull, two-tenths for the one ram,

29with one-tenth for each of the seven lambs,

30as well as one male goat to make an atonement for you.

31You are to offer them with their drink offerings in addition to the continual burnt offering and its grain offering—they must be unblemished.

1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2“Command the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘See that you present my offering, my food for my offerings made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to me, in their due season.’

3You shall tell them, ‘This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to Yahweh: male lambs a year old without defect, two day by day, for a continual burnt offering.

4You shall offer the one lamb in the morning, and you shall offer the other lamb at evening;

5with one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil.

6It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in Mount Sinai for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

7Its drink offering shall be the fourth part of a hin for the one lamb. You shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to Yahweh in the holy place.

8The other lamb you shall offer at evening. As the meal offering of the morning, and as its drink offering, you shall offer it, an offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.

9“‘On the Sabbath day, you shall offer two male lambs a year old without defect, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering:

10this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the continual burnt offering, and its drink offering.

11“‘In the beginnings of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering to Yahweh: two young bulls, and one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defect;

12and three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, for each bull; and two tenth parts of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, for the one ram;

13and one tenth part of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering to every lamb; for a burnt offering of a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

14Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, and the third part of a hin for the ram, and the fourth part of a hin for a lamb. This is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.

15One male goat for a sin offering to Yahweh; it shall be offered besides the continual burnt offering, and its drink offering.

16“‘In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, is Yahweh’s Passover.

17On the fifteenth day of this month shall be a feast. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days.

18In the first day shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work;

19but you shall offer an offering made by fire, a burnt offering to Yahweh: two young bulls, and one ram, and seven male lambs a year old; they shall be to you without defect;

20and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil. You shall offer three tenths for a bull, and two tenths for the ram.

21You shall offer one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs;

22and one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you.

23You shall offer these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.

24In this way you shall offer daily, for seven days, the food of the offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh. It shall be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its drink offering.

25On the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work.

26“‘Also in the day of the first fruits, when you offer a new meal offering to Yahweh in your feast of weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work;

27but you shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old;

28and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for each bull, two tenths for the one ram,

29one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs;

30one male goat, to make atonement for you.

31Besides the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, you shall offer them and their drink offerings. See that they are without defect.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

God reiterates the daily, weekly, and monthly offerings — a rhythm of continual worship that keeps Israel's relationship with Him at the center.

Authorship & Background

Author: Moses. Numbers is the fourth book of the Pentateuch, written during the wilderness period (approximately 1445-1405 BC). Hebrew title: "Bemidbar" — "In the wilderness." The book records Israel's 38 years of wilderness wandering between Sinai and the Promised Land — a journey that should have taken 11 days (Deuteronomy 1:2) but took 40 years due to unbelief.
Historical Context: Chapters 28-29 form a unit prescribing the complete sacrificial calendar for Israel — the regular offerings that structure worship life in the Promised Land. These instructions are given to the new generation (after the second census of chapter 26) as they prepare to enter Canaan. While similar offerings were prescribed at Sinai (Exodus 29:38-42; Leviticus 23), this restatement emphasizes their ongoing obligation in the land. The offerings move from most frequent to least: daily (morning and evening), weekly (Sabbath), monthly (new moon), and annual festivals (Passover/Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks/Firstfruits). Chapter 28 covers daily through Feast of Weeks; chapter 29 covers the seventh-month festivals. The key phrase repeated throughout: "a pleasing aroma to the LORD" (ESV) / "a sweet savour unto the LORD" (KJV) — these offerings are God's "food" (v.2), not because He needs sustenance, but because they represent communion between God and His people. The regularity of sacrifice teaches that access to God requires constant atonement — a truth fulfilled in Christ's once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27; 10:1-14).
The Daily Offering — Tamid (vv.1-8): God calls these "my offering, my bread" (v.2) — language of personal relationship. The continual burnt offering: two unblemished yearling lambs daily — one in the morning, one at twilight (evening). Each accompanied by a grain offering (1/10 ephah of fine flour mixed with 1/4 hin of beaten oil) and a drink offering (1/4 hin of wine/strong drink poured out in the Holy Place). This offering was "ordained at Mount Sinai" (v.6) — it has been in effect since Exodus 29:38-42. The tamid ("continual") offering frames every day with sacrifice — Israel's first and last act each day is worship.
The Sabbath Offering (vv.9-10): On the Sabbath: two additional yearling lambs (beyond the daily two), with double grain and drink offerings. The Sabbath offering is "beside the continual burnt offering" — it adds to, not replaces, the daily sacrifice. The Sabbath doubles the daily worship.
The Monthly Offering — New Moon (vv.11-15): At the beginning of each month: two young bulls, one ram, seven yearling lambs (all as burnt offerings), with proportional grain offerings (3/10 ephah per bull, 2/10 per ram, 1/10 per lamb) and drink offerings (1/2 hin per bull, 1/3 per ram, 1/4 per lamb). Plus one male goat as a sin offering. All "beside the continual burnt offering" — the monthly adds to the daily.
Passover and Unleavened Bread (vv.16-25): The 14th of the first month: Passover. The 15th through 21st: Feast of Unleavened Bread. Days 1 and 7 are holy convocations (no ordinary work). Daily for seven days: same offerings as the new moon (2 bulls, 1 ram, 7 lambs + 1 goat for sin offering) — all beside the daily tamid. The Passover lamb itself is not mentioned here (it was a household offering, not a public altar sacrifice).
Feast of Weeks / Firstfruits (vv.26-31): "The day of the firstfruits" — also called Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) or Pentecost (50 days after Firstfruits). A holy convocation with no ordinary work. Offerings: 2 bulls, 1 ram, 7 yearling lambs as burnt offerings + 1 male goat for sin offering. The "new grain offering" (v.26) celebrates the wheat harvest — the first fruits belong to God.

Map & Geography

  • Plains of Moab: Offering laws given in preparation for worship in the Promised Land. "My offering, and my bread" (v.2) — God claims the firstfruits of the land they will inhabit.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes the relentless regularity of the sacrificial system — every morning and evening, every week, every month, every festival. The sheer volume of blood and sacrifice taught Israel that sin is serious and access to God is costly. All of it points to Christ's sufficient, once-for-all sacrifice.
  • Charles Spurgeon: "Morning and evening, a lamb. Day after day, year after year, the knife fell and the blood flowed. Was God satisfied? Never — for the next morning required another lamb. The repetition was the confession of insufficiency. But when the Lamb of God hung upon the cross, He cried 'It is finished!' — and no morning lamb was ever needed again. The continual offering has found its end in the one offering that continues forever."

Reflection

  • 1. "My offering... in their due season" (v.2). God prescribes both the content and the timing of worship. Worship is not merely spontaneous emotion — it is disciplined, regular, and ordered. Do you have a "due season" for meeting with God, or only when you feel like it?
  • 2. Morning and evening, every day (vv.3-4). The day begins and ends with sacrifice. Before any work is done, a lamb dies. Before sleep comes, blood is shed. The Christian life is similarly framed: begin and end each day at the cross.
  • 3. The Sabbath doubles the offering (vv.9-10). Rest is not less worship but more. The day of ceasing from labor is the day of increased sacrifice. True rest is found not in inactivity but in intensified communion with God.
  • 4. The relentless repetition (vv.3, 9, 11, 16, 26). Daily, weekly, monthly, annually — the sacrifices never stop. This repetition confesses insufficiency: no single offering is enough. Only Christ's once-for-all sacrifice ends the cycle (Hebrews 10:11-14).
  • 5. "Without blemish" — repeated throughout. Every animal must be perfect. God accepts no defective worship. This points to Christ, "a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19). Are you offering God your best, or your leftovers?
  • 6. The drink offering poured out (v.7). Wine poured at the altar — not consumed but given entirely. Paul describes his life as a drink offering (Philippians 2:17; 2 Timothy 4:6). Total self-giving, holding nothing back. Is your life being poured out for God's purposes?