Bible Commentaries

OFFERINGS AT THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS

(vs.1-6)

About four months passed by before the Feast of Trumpets took place. This illustrates the long time elapsing following Pentecost which introduced the extended dispensation of the grace of God, while Israel has been in a state of unbelief. But the Feast of Trumpets symbolizes the regathering of Israel to their land as is noted in Matthew 24:31 : "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

His elect here are those elect for earthly blessing. There have already been signs of Israel's return to their land with at least a relatively small number restored there; but when the church of God is raptured to heaven, then this call by angelic power will have great public effect, for the trumpets speak of a clearly declared testimony.

"The last trumpet" in connection with the rapture (1 Corinthians 15:52) will be sounded much before the trumpet to regather Israel; but it is called "the last trumpet" because it will be the last public testimony on earth as to the Church of God. Her being suddenly taken away will be a most striking testimony. But as regards Israel there are other trumpets following this great event.

On this day of blowing of trumpets there was to be a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven lambs in their first year, all unblemished. At Pentecost two young bulls were offered, otherwise the offerings were the same, and the grain offering was the same for each animal. A kid of the goats was again included as a sin offering, "to make atonement" rather than "as a sweet aroma." These were all added to the regular monthly offerings, as verse 6 indicates.

OFFERINGS ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

(vs.7-11)

The Day of Atonement followed closely the feast of Trumpets, only ten days later, for it symbolizes the great work of God in Israel when, at the end of the tribulation, "they look upon Him whom they pierced" (Zechariah 12:10) and will broken down in profound repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus. This is why, in verse 7, Israel is told "You shall afflict your souls," when they gathered in holy convocation, ceasing from any work (v.7).

A burnt offering was to be presented, one young bull, one ram and seven lambs in their first year, without blemish. The grain offering presented as a sin offering (v.11). These were in addition to the main offerings of the Day of Atonement (Compare Leviticus 16:1-34).

We have considered in chapter 29:7-11 the offerings made on Day of Atonement. These are described in more detail in Leviticus 16:1-34, when Aaron was to take the blood of the sin offering into the holiest of all, and the bodies of the animals were burned without the camp.

But on that day, though the main focus was on the once yearly sin offering, the burnt offering was not to be forgotten, for in every connection God is to be glorified. This is just as true in His great work of judging sin as in the blessing of sinners.

OFFERINGS AT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

(vs.12-40)

The Feast of Tabernacles is symbolical of the great blessing of God in the millennial age, so that there is much more in the way of offerings prescribed for this feast which was kept up for eight days.

The feast began only five days after the Day of Atonement, for after Israel has been broken down in true repentance before God, God cannot delay to fill their hearts with overflowing adoration of His beloved Son. The first day was to be a holy convocation: on this day the number of rams and lambs was doubled over the other feast days and the number of bulls increased to thirteen. This number falls short of 7x2, the witness of perfection, for the millennium is not eternity; the people of God will still have their sinful natures as well as the new nature, and the tendency of this is toward decline, just as Ephesus left her first love (Revelation 2:4) and the decline of the Church has continued through her history on earth.

On the eighth day was to be a solemn assembly with all work ceasing (v.35), a good reminder that the great blessing of the millennium is not dependent on Israel's work, but altogether on the grace of God. Numbers 8:1-26 speaks of a new beginning, and the millennium will indeed be a new beginning for Israel, for their joy will be overflowing in contrast to the centuries of sorrow and trouble they have seen. The offerings made every day for the eight days indicate that Israel will not cease to give honor and praise to God in that period of one thousand years. The offerings on the eighth day (vs.36-39) were the same as on the day of the Feast of Trumpets (vs.1-6) and on the Day of Atonement (vs.7-11).