Bible Commentaries

This and the next chapter contain a repetition of laws concerning the great religious observances of the nation. This repetition is an orderly statement covering the whole year and, indeed, showing its relationship in every period to spiritual matters. It was thus set forth on the eve of their entering on possession of the land in order that the arrangements for worship might be duly made and properly carried out.

First we have the religious rites appointed for the small time divisions. Daily sacrifices were arranged for (verses Numbers 28:1-8), weekly offerings which were to be made on the Sabbath were named (verses Numbers 28:9-10), and the monthly offerings appointed (verses Numbers 28:11-15).

A study of these will show how there was an increase in the number of the sacrifices and the importance of the religious rites in each enlarging section of time. Daily, one lamb in the morning and one in the evening; on the Sabbath two he-lambs in addition to the continual burnt offering; in the beginnings of the months two young bullocks, one ram, and seven he-lambs, all in addition to continual burnt offering.

Then follow instructions concerning the observances marking the springtime, the feast of Passover forever reminding them of the divine deliverance by which they had become a nation formed the commencement of the year. Following this, after an interval, came the feast of Pentecost in which the first fruits were offered to God.