CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Numbers 29
Chapter 29 of 36
Chapter Overview
What happens in Numbers 29
God gives instructions for the offerings at three important fall festivals: the Festival of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Festival of Tabernacles. These were the most sacred days of the year, and the offerings were large and detailed, showing the importance of coming before God with thanksgiving and repentance.
Scripture
Numbers 29
The Festival of Trumpets
Study note
On the first day of the seventh month, the Israelites celebrated the Festival of Trumpets. Trumpets were blown throughout the camp to mark this special day. No regular work was done, and special offerings were brought. This day later became known as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
1 "On the first day of the seventh month, hold a special worship gathering. No regular work is permitted. This is your day for blowing the trumpets." And 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.
2 "Give a burnt offering that makes a pleasing smell to the Lord: one young bull, one ram, and seven one-year-old lambs, all without any flaws." And 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:
3 "Along with them, bring grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil: six quarts for the bull, four quarts for the ram," And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram,
4 "and two quarts for each of the seven lambs." And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
5 "Also sacrifice one male goat as a sin offering to make things right before God." And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:
6 "These are in addition to the monthly burnt offering with its grain offering, the regular daily burnt offering with its grain offering, and all their drink offerings. Follow the established rules. These are fire offerings that produce a pleasing smell to the Lord." Beside 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.
The Day of Atonement
Study note
The tenth day of the seventh month was the Day of Atonement, also called Yom Kippur. This was the most solemn day of the year. The people fasted and did no work at all. Special offerings were made to cover the sins of the whole nation. It was a day to humble oneself before God and seek forgiveness.
7 "On the tenth day of this seventh month, hold a special worship gathering. You must humble yourselves and do no work at all." And 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:
8 "Give a burnt offering that makes a pleasing smell to the Lord: one young bull, one ram, and seven one-year-old lambs, all without any flaws." But 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:
9 "Along with them, bring grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil: six quarts for the bull, four quarts for the ram," And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram,
10 "and two quarts for each of the seven lambs." A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
11 "Also offer one male goat as a sin offering. This is on top of the sin offering made on the Day of Atonement, plus the regular daily burnt offering with its grain offering and their drink offerings." One 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.
The Festival of Tabernacles: Days One Through Seven
Study note
The Festival of Tabernacles, also called Sukkot, began on the fifteenth day of the seventh month and lasted seven days. The people lived in temporary shelters made of branches to remember how God cared for them during the wilderness years. The offerings during this festival were the largest of the year. On the first day, thirteen bulls were offered. Each day the number of bulls decreased by one, ending with seven on the seventh day. This decreasing pattern over seven days totaled seventy bulls.
12 "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, hold a special worship gathering. No regular work is permitted. Celebrate a festival honoring the Lord for seven days." And 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:
13 "Present a burnt gift, a fire gift with a pleasing smell to the Lord. Bring thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen one-year-old lambs. All must have no flaws." And 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:
14 "Along with them, bring grain offerings of fine flour mixed with oil. Bring six quarts for each of the thirteen bulls. Bring four quarts for each of the two rams." And 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,
15 "and two quarts for each of the fourteen lambs." And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs:
16 "Also sacrifice one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering." And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
17 "On the second day of the festival, sacrifice twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen one-year-old lambs without defects." And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:
18 "Bring the right grain offerings and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs. Follow the usual amounts." And 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:
19 "Also sacrifice one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offerings." And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings.
20 "On the third day, sacrifice eleven bulls, two rams, and fourteen one-year-old lambs without defects." And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish;
21 "Bring the right grain offerings and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs. Follow the usual amounts." And 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:
22 "Also sacrifice one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering." And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.
23 "On the fourth day, sacrifice ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen one-year-old lambs without defects." And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:
24 "Bring the right grain offerings and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs. Follow the usual amounts." 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:
25 "Also sacrifice one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering." And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
26 "On the fifth day, sacrifice nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen one-year-old lambs without defects." And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:
27 "Bring the right grain offerings and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs. Follow the usual amounts." And 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:
28 "Also sacrifice one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering." And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.
29 "On the sixth day, sacrifice eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen one-year-old lambs without defects." And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:
30 "Bring the right grain offerings and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs. Follow the usual amounts." And 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:
31 "Also sacrifice one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering." And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
32 "On the seventh day, sacrifice seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen one-year-old lambs without defects." And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:
33 "Bring the right grain offerings and drink offerings for the bulls, rams, and lambs. Follow the usual amounts." And 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:
34 "Also sacrifice one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering." And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
The Closing Assembly
Study note
On the eighth day, a special closing assembly was held. The offerings were smaller, similar to those of the other festivals, marking a solemn conclusion to the week of celebration. Moses faithfully reported all of these instructions to the people of Israel.
35 "On the eighth day, hold a special closing ceremony. No regular work is permitted." On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein:
36 "Give a burnt gift, a fire gift with a pleasing smell to the Lord. Bring one bull, one ram, and seven one-year-old lambs. All must have nothing wrong with them." But 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:
37 "Bring the right grain offerings and drink offerings for the bull, the ram, and the lambs. Use the usual amounts." Their 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:
38 "Also sacrifice one male goat as a sin offering. These are in addition to the regular daily burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering." And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.
39 "These are the offerings you must bring to the Lord at your set feasts. They are added to any personal offerings you give because of a vow or as a free gift. These can be burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, or peace offerings." These 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.
40 Moses told the Israelites everything. He said just what the Lord had told him. And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.
Key Themes
Themes in Numbers 29
Sacred seasons and festivalsRepentance and atonementJoy and celebration before GodThe increasing cost of devotion
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
Numbers 29:7-11 Hebrews 9:11-12
The Day of Atonement sacrifices point to Christ entering the heavenly tabernacle with his own blood, securing eternal redemption once for all.
Apply This Today
Living Numbers 29
The fall festivals move from alarm (trumpets) to repentance (atonement) to joyful celebration (tabernacles). This pattern mirrors the spiritual journey: God gets our attention, we turn from sin, and then we celebrate His goodness. These sacred rhythms remind us that every season of life has spiritual significance.
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