Numbers — Chapter 29

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1“On the first day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you must not do any regular work. This will be a day for you to sound the trumpets.

2As a pleasing aroma to the LORD, you are to present a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

3together with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil—three-tenths of an ephah with the bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram,

4and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven male lambs.

5Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you.

6These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their prescribed grain offerings and drink offerings. They are a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD.

7On the tenth day of this seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you shall humble yourselves; you must not do any work.

8Present as a pleasing aroma to the LORD a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

9together with their grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil—three-tenths of an ephah with the bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram,

10and a tenth of an ephah with each of the seven lambs.

11Include one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering of atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offerings.

12On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work, and you shall observe a feast to the LORD for seven days.

13As a pleasing aroma to the LORD, you are to present a food offering, a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

14along with the grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil with each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths of an ephah with each of the two rams,

15and a tenth of an ephah with each of the fourteen lambs.

16Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

17On the second day you are to present twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

18along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.

19Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

20On the third day you are to present eleven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

21along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.

22Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

23On the fourth day you are to present ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

24along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.

25Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

26On the fifth day you are to present nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

27along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.

28Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

29On the sixth day you are to present eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

30along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.

31Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

32On the seventh day you are to present seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

33along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.

34Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

35On the eighth day you are to hold a solemn assembly; you must not do any regular work.

36As a pleasing aroma to the LORD, you are to present a food offering, a burnt offering of one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished,

37along with the grain and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs, according to the number prescribed.

38Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

39You are to present these offerings to the LORD at your appointed times, in addition to your vow and freewill offerings, whether burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, or peace offerings.”

40So Moses spoke all this to the Israelites just as the LORD had commanded him.

1And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.

2And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish:

3And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram,

4And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

5And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:

6Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.

7And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:

8But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD for a sweet savour; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto you without blemish:

9And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram,

10A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

11One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings.

12And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:

13And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish:

14And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams,

15And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs:

16And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

17And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:

18And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

19And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings.

20And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish;

21And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

22And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

23And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

24Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

25And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

26And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:

27And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

28And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

29And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

30And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

31And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

32And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

33And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

34And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

35On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein:

36But ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish:

37Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

38And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

39These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.

40And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.

1And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing of trumpets unto you.

2And ye shall offer a burnt-offering for a sweet savor unto Jehovah: one young bullock, one ram, seven he-lambs a year old without blemish;

3and their meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil, three tenth parts for the bullock, two tenth parts for the ram,

4and one tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs;

5and one he-goat for a sin-offering, to make atonement for you;

6besides the burnt-offering of the new moon, and the meal-offering thereof, and the continual burnt-offering and the meal-offering thereof, and their drink-offerings, according unto their ordinance, for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

7And on the tenth day of this seventh month ye shall have a holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall do no manner of work;

8but ye shall offer a burnt-offering unto Jehovah for a sweet savor: one young bullock, one ram, seven he-lambs a year old; they shall be unto you without blemish;

9and their meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil, three tenth parts for the bullock, two tenth parts for the one ram,

10a tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs:

11one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the sin-offering of atonement, and the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and their drink-offerings.

12And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto Jehovah seven days:

13and ye shall offer a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish;

14and their meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil, three tenth parts for every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth parts for each ram of the two rams,

15and a tenth part for every lamb of the fourteen lambs;

16and one he-goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.

17And on the second day [ye shall offer] twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;

18and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

19and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and their drink-offerings.

20And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;

21and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

22and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.

23And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;

24their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

25and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.

26And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;

27and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

28and one he-goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.

29And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;

30and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

31and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offerings thereof.

32And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;

33and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

34and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.

35On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work;

36but ye shall offer a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah: one bullock, one ram, seven he-lambs a year old without blemish;

37their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the ordinance:

38and one he-goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.

39These ye shall offer unto Jehovah in your set feasts, besides your vows, and your freewill-offerings, for your burnt-offerings, and for your meal-offerings, and for your drink-offerings, and for your peace-offerings.

40And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that Jehovah commanded Moses.

1“‘On the first day of the seventh month, you are to hold a holy assembly. You must not do your ordinary work, for it is a day of blowing trumpets for you.

2You must offer a burnt offering as a sweet aroma to the Lord: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs one year old without blemish.

3“‘Their grain offering is to be of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil, three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths of an ephah for the ram,

4and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs,

5with one male goat for a purification offering to make an atonement for you;

6this is in addition to the monthly burnt offering and its grain offering, and the daily burnt offering with its grain offering and their drink offerings as prescribed, as a sweet aroma, a sacrifice made by fire to the Lord.

7“‘On the tenth day of this seventh month you are to have a holy assembly. You must humble yourselves; you must not do any work on it.

8But you must offer a burnt offering as a pleasing aroma to the Lord, one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs one year old, all of them without blemish.

9Their grain offerings must be of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil, three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram,

10and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs,

11along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the purification offering for atonement and the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and their drink offerings.

12“‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you are to have a holy assembly; you must do no ordinary work, and you must keep a festival to the Lord for seven days.

13You must offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the Lord: thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs each one year old, all of them without blemish.

14Their grain offerings must be of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil, three-tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths of an ephah for each of the two rams,

15and one-tenth for each of the fourteen lambs,

16along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.

17“‘On the second day you must offer twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish,

18and their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,

19along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and their drink offerings.

20“‘On the third day you must offer eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish,

21and their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,

22along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.

23“‘On the fourth day you must offer ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish,

24and their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,

25along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.

26“‘On the fifth day you must offer nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish,

27and their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,

28along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.

29“‘On the sixth day you must offer eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish,

30and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,

31along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.

32“‘On the seventh day you must offer seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish,

33and their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,

34along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.

35“‘On the eighth day you are to have a holy assembly; you must do no ordinary work on it.

36But you must offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, as a pleasing aroma to the Lord, one bull, one ram, seven lambs one year old, all of them without blemish,

37and with their grain offerings and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,

38along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.

39“‘These things you must present to the Lord at your appointed times, in addition to your vows and your freewill offerings, as your burnt offerings, your grain offerings, your drink offerings, and your peace offerings.’”

40(30:1) So Moses told the Israelites everything, just as the Lord had commanded him.

1“‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no regular work: it is a day of blowing of trumpets to you.

2You shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defect;

3and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for the bull, two tenths for the ram,

4and one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs;

5and one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you;

6besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and its meal offering, and the continual burnt offering and its meal offering, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

7“‘On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall afflict your souls. You shall do no kind of work;

8but you shall offer a burnt offering to Yahweh for a pleasant aroma: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old; all without defect;

9and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for the bull, two tenths for the one ram,

10one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs:

11one male goat for a sin offering; besides the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and their drink offerings.

12“‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. You shall keep a feast to Yahweh seven days.

13You shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; all without defect;

14and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each ram of the two rams,

15and one tenth for every lamb of the fourteen lambs;

16and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.

17“‘On the second day you shall offer twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;

18and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

19and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering and their drink offerings.

20“‘On the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;

21and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

22and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering.

23“‘On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;

24their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

25and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.

26“‘On the fifth day nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;

27and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

28and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering.

29“‘On the sixth day eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;

30and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

31and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and the drink offerings of it.

32“‘On the seventh day seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;

33and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;

34and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.

35“‘On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly: you shall do no regular work;

36but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defect;

37their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the ordinance:

38and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering, and its drink offering.

39“‘You shall offer these to Yahweh in your set feasts, besides your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meal offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.’”

40Moses told the children of Israel according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses.

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Summary

God prescribes the offerings for the Feast of Trumpets on the first day of the seventh month, marked by trumpet blasts and a distinct set of sacrifices beyond the regular offerings (vv. 1-6). Ten days later, the Day of Atonement requires solemn rest from work along with its own specified offerings, described here purely in terms of sacrifice rather than the fuller ritual detailed in Leviticus 16 (vv. 7-11). The Feast of Tabernacles begins five days after that and lasts eight days, requiring an unusually large and gradually decreasing number of bulls sacrificed each day, alongside rams, lambs, and grain and drink offerings (vv. 12-38). The chapter closes noting that these offerings are in addition to whatever vows or freewill offerings the people bring on their own (v. 39).

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: Chapter 29 continues the sacrificial calendar begun in chapter 28, covering the three festivals of the seventh month (Tishri) — the most sacred month in Israel's liturgical year. These are: (1) the Feast of Trumpets (1st day), (2) the Day of Atonement (10th day), and (3) the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths (15th-22nd days). The seventh month is to the year what the Sabbath is to the week — a climactic time of intensified worship. The Feast of Tabernacles is the grandest festival, requiring more sacrifices than any other occasion: over the seven days, 70 bulls are offered (13+12+11+10+9+8+7), decreasing by one each day. Many scholars see the 70 bulls as representing the 70 nations of Genesis 10 — Israel interceding for the whole world. The eighth day ("solemn assembly") reduces to a single bull — perhaps representing Israel alone with God after the nations are addressed. These festivals prophetically point to end-time realities: Trumpets → the return of Christ; Atonement → Israel's national repentance; Tabernacles → the Millennial Kingdom of joy and rest.
Classification: Historical Narrative
Key Themes: a first day of the seventh month set apart specifically for trumpet blasts, a tenth day requiring souls afflicted and no work at all, its public offerings kept explicitly separate from the more elaborate atonement ritual already given in Leviticus, a seven-day feast of booths whose bull count decreases by one each day, thirteen down to seven, for reasons the text never explains, an eighth day of quiet assembly following that abundance with a single bull, ram and seven lambs, and a total of one hundred eighty-nine animals accumulated across Sukkot's seven days alone
Feast of Trumpets (vv.1-6): The first day of the seventh month — a holy convocation, no ordinary work. "A day of blowing the trumpets" (KJV) / "a day for you to blow the trumpets" (ESV). Offerings: 1 bull, 1 ram, 7 yearling lambs (burnt offerings) + 1 male goat (sin offering), with proportional grain offerings. All "beside" the monthly new moon offering and the daily tamid. The trumpets (shofar — ram's horn) signal awakening, assembly, and preparation. This feast begins the "Ten Days of Awe" leading to the Day of Atonement.
Day of Atonement — Yom Kippur (vv.7-11): The tenth day of the seventh month — a holy convocation. "Ye shall afflict your souls" (KJV) / "afflict yourselves" (ESV) — fasting and self-denial. No work whatsoever. Offerings: 1 bull, 1 ram, 7 yearling lambs (burnt offerings) + 1 male goat (sin offering). These are "beside the sin offering of atonement" (v.11) — the special Yom Kippur ritual of Leviticus 16 (the scapegoat, the blood sprinkled on the mercy seat) is separate from and in addition to these public offerings. This is the most solemn day of the year — the one day the high priest enters the Holy of Holies.
Feast of Tabernacles / Booths — Sukkot (vv.12-34): The fifteenth day of the seventh month — a holy convocation, no ordinary work, a seven-day feast. This is the harvest festival of joy and thanksgiving. The offerings are extraordinary: Day 1: 13 bulls, 2 rams, 14 lambs + 1 goat (sin offering) Day 2: 12 bulls, 2 rams, 14 lambs + 1 goat Day 3: 11 bulls, 2 rams, 14 lambs + 1 goat Day 4: 10 bulls, 2 rams, 14 lambs + 1 goat Day 5: 9 bulls, 2 rams, 14 lambs + 1 goat Day 6: 8 bulls, 2 rams, 14 lambs + 1 goat Day 7: 7 bulls, 2 rams, 14 lambs + 1 goat total: 70 bulls, 14 rams, 98 lambs, 7 goats = 189 animals
The bulls decrease by one each day (13→7), totaling 70. The rams (14) and lambs (98) remain constant. Each day also includes proportional grain and drink offerings. All "beside the continual burnt offering."
The Eighth Day — Solemn Assembly (vv.35-38): The 22nd day — "a solemn assembly" (Hebrew: "atzeret" — a closing/restraining). No ordinary work. Offerings dramatically reduce: 1 bull, 1 ram, 7 lambs + 1 goat. After the grandeur of seven days, the eighth day is intimate — a quiet conclusion. Jesus stood on this day and cried, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink" (John 7:37).
Conclusion (vv.39-40): These are the "appointed feasts" (ESV) / "set feasts" (KJV) — in addition to personal vows and freewill offerings. The prescribed calendar does not eliminate spontaneous worship; it provides the framework within which personal devotion operates.

Map & Geography

  • Plains of Moab: Festival calendar laws given here in preparation for worship life in the Promised Land.

Places on this map

  • Moabwest-central JordanThe plateau east of the Dead Sea, cut off from Israel by the rift valley and from Ammon by the Arnon gorge. High enough to farm grain, which is why Naomi's family went there in a famine. Wikipedia
  • CanaanIsrael, West Bank, LebanonThe land bridge between Egypt and Mesopotamia, which is why armies crossed it for three thousand years. Within about 60 miles it goes from coastal plain to hill country to rift valley to desert plateau, so control of it was always local and piecemeal. Wikipedia

Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes the prophetic significance of the seventh-month festivals: Trumpets points to the rapture/second coming, Atonement to Israel's national repentance, and Tabernacles to the joy of the Millennial Kingdom. He highlights the 70 bulls as possibly representing the nations.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Numbers 29 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes
2BeLikeChrist

Numbers 28-30 | Holy Time | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

Articles

  • BibleProject: bibleproject.com On the whole book: what the census lists and wilderness years are doing in Scripture.
  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Numbers -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • The Trumpet Calls for Awakening (v.1) — The Feast of Trumpets opens the seventh month by rousing the people to prepare before the Day of Atonement arrives. Are you spiritually alert, or do you need something to jolt you out of complacency?
  • Sober Self-Examination Before God (v.7) — The Day of Atonement calls the people to afflict their souls through fasting and self-denial rather than feasting while sin is being addressed. When did you last take real time for honest self-examination and repentance before God?
  • Solemnity Before Celebration (v.12) — The joyful Feast of Tabernacles follows only after the sober Day of Atonement has passed, showing that celebration rightly follows the dealing with sin, not before it. Does your own rejoicing in God flow out of having first faced your sin honestly?
  • Worship That Extends to the Nations (vv.13-34) — The sheer number of sacrifices offered during the Feast of Tabernacles has long been understood as Israel interceding on behalf of all the nations of the earth. Is your own worship focused only on yourself, or does it carry concern for people beyond your own circle?
  • Intimate Communion After the Crowd Disperses (vv.35-38) — After seven days of grand public celebration, the eighth day is a quiet, reduced gathering — just the individual worshiper remaining with God. Do you linger in God's presence after the excitement of corporate worship has ended?