Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Numbers 28
Numbers 28:2"Command the people of Israel and say to them, 'My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time.'"
God Himself initiates this schedule, emphasizing that these offerings are His provision for the people to draw near to Him at the proper times.Numbers 28:3-4And you shall say to them, This is the food offering that you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering. The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight;
The daily morning and evening sacrifices formed the foundation of Israel's worship, a constant reminder of their dependence on God and the need for atonement.Numbers 28:22one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you.
The inclusion of a sin offering during the Feast of Unleavened Bread shows that even in times of celebration, forgiveness for sin is a necessary part of approaching God.
Historical & Cultural Context
On the Brink of the Promised Land
The Israelites are camped on the plains of Moab, right on the doorstep of the Promised Land. The generation that came out of Egypt has passed away, and a new generation is poised to inherit God's promise. Before they cross the Jordan River, God, through Moses, gives them instructions that will shape their life as a nation. These laws are not solely for wilderness survival. They are for establishing a holy community in their new home.
A Calendar for a New Community
Numbers 28 isn't introducing a brand-new system but is organizing and clarifying the laws of sacrifice given earlier, particularly in Leviticus. It functions as a practical handbook for the priests and the nation, laying out a clear, repeating calendar of worship. This rhythm would unify the people and keep their focus on God as the center of their daily, weekly, and yearly lives, reminding them of His past deliverance and ongoing provision.
The Rhythm of Offerings
In Numbers 28, God lays out a comprehensive schedule of public worship. This isn't about private devotion but about the entire community of Israel coming before God in a unified way. The chapter moves methodically from the daily baseline of worship to the special observances that mark the weeks, months, and seasons, creating a rich tapestry of remembrance and dedication.
The Daily Foundation (Numbers 28:1-8)
1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "Command the people of Israel and say to them, 'My offering, my food for my food offerings, my pleasing aroma, you shall be careful to offer to me at its appointed time.'"
3 And you shall say to them, This is the food offering that you shall offer to the Lord: two male lambs a year old without blemish, day by day, as a regular offering.
4 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight;
5 also a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with a quarter of a hin of beaten oil.
6 It is a regular burnt offering, which was ordained at Mount Sinai for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord.
7 "Its drink offering shall be a quarter of a hin for each lamb. In the Holy Place you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the Lord."
8 The other lamb you shall offer at twilight; as the grain offering of the morning and as its drink offering, you shall offer it, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Commentary:
God establishes the morning and evening sacrifices as the non-negotiable, daily foundation of Israel's worship life.
The Weekly Sabbath Offering (Numbers 28:9-10)
9 "On the Sabbath day, two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering:"
10 one-tenth of an ephah for each of the seven lambs;
Commentary:
On the Sabbath, the daily sacrifices are doubled, marking the day as one of special rest and worship.
The Monthly New Moon Offering (Numbers 28:11-15)
11 "At the beginnings of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord: two bulls from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish;"
12 And three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, for each bull, and two tenths of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, for the one ram;
13 And a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a grain offering, mixed with a quarter of a hin of beaten oil.
14 And their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, a third of a hin for a ram, and a quarter of a hin for a lamb. This is the burnt offering of each month throughout the months of the year.
15 And one male goat for a sin offering to the Lord; it shall be offered besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
Commentary:
At the start of each month, Israel was to offer substantial sacrifices, including one for sin, to dedicate the coming weeks to God.
The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread (Numbers 28:16-25)
16 "On the fourteenth day of the first month is the Lord's Passover,"
17 and on the fifteenth day of this month is a feast. Seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.
18 And their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine, and you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the Lord.
19 but offer a food offering, a burnt offering to the Lord: two bulls from the herd, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old;
20 And their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for the bull, two tenths for the ram,
21 a tenth of an ephah for each of the seven lambs;
22 one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you.
23 "You shall offer these in addition to the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a regular burnt offering."
24 In this way you shall offer daily, for seven days, the food of the offering made by fire, of a pleasing aroma to the Lord. It shall be offered besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
25 And on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work.
Commentary:
During the week-long Passover festival, extensive daily offerings were required to remember God's mighty act of delivering Israel from Egypt.
The Feast of Weeks (Numbers 28:26-31)
26 "On the day of the firstfruits, when you offer a grain offering of new grain to the Lord at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work,"
27 But you shall offer a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord: two bulls from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old;
28 And their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for each bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each ram of the two rams,
29 Their grain offering shall be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a food offering to the Lord with a pleasing aroma, and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, a fourth of a hin.
30 And one male goat for a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.
31 You shall offer them in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering.
Commentary:
At the celebration of the first harvest, Israel offered sacrifices of thanksgiving for God's provision, acknowledging Him as the source of their sustenance.
Core Truths in the Calendar of Worship
The Rhythm of Relationship
Numbers 28 shows that a relationship with God is not meant to be a sporadic or purely emotional experience. It is built on a steady, reliable rhythm of worship that shapes the entire calendar, reminding the people of God's presence in their daily, weekly, and seasonal life.
Atonement as the Foundation for Worship
The repeated command for a sin offering alongside the celebratory burnt offerings is crucial. It teaches that approaching a holy God always requires dealing with sin. Atonement - the act of covering sin to restore relationship - is not an afterthought but the very foundation upon which all worship is built.
Worship as a Grateful Response
The offerings of animals, grain, oil, and wine were taken from the best of what God had already given to Israel. This shows that worship is not about trying to earn God's favor but about gratefully and obediently giving back a portion of the blessings He has already provided.
Living in God's Rhythm Today
Numbers 28 is about the principle of putting God at the center of your time. While you don't offer lambs, you can establish daily rhythms of prayer, weekly gathering with other believers, and seasonal moments of reflection. The goal is the same: to intentionally and consistently orient your life around God.
The repetitive sin offerings show that sin is a constant reality that must be addressed to have fellowship with God. This should make you incredibly grateful for Jesus, whose one-time sacrifice in your place was perfect and final (Hebrews 10:10). You don't need to repeat a sacrifice because His was enough for all time.
The 'pleasing aroma' came from an obedient and faithful heart behind the offering (Numbers 28:2, 8). Today, your worship becomes a pleasing aroma when it comes from a place of genuine love and gratitude. It's less about a perfect performance and more about offering your life - your time, talents, and attention - back to God with a sincere heart.
A Divine Rhythm for Life
Numbers 28 reveals God's desire for a sustained, moment-by-moment relationship with His people, built on a reliable rhythm of worship. By structuring Israel's calendar around these offerings, God was teaching them that every part of their lives - from the start of the day to the change of seasons - belonged to Him. This system, with its constant provision for sin, shows that God Himself makes a way for His people to draw near. This entire calendar of sacrifice points forward to Jesus, whose one perfect offering fulfills every requirement and invites us into unending fellowship with God.
What This Means for Us Today
The detailed instructions in Numbers 28 are a powerful invitation from God to live in constant fellowship with Him. While we no longer bring animal sacrifices, the principle remains: God invites us into a daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythm of remembering His goodness and grace, now centered on the finished work of Jesus.
- What is one small, consistent rhythm you can add to your day to better acknowledge God's presence?
- How can your participation in weekly church services be a more intentional act of worship and remembrance?
- In what area of your life do you need to be reminded that Jesus' sacrifice has already made atonement for you?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter precedes the laws on offerings with the appointment of Joshua as Moses' successor, ensuring leadership for the people as they enter the land.
The list of required offerings continues here, detailing the sacrifices for the fall festivals, including the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement.
Connections Across Scripture
This chapter provides a parallel list of the sacred festivals, focusing more on the meaning and observance of the days for the people.
This gives the original story of the Passover, providing the foundational narrative for the festival offerings described in Numbers 28:16-25.
This New Testament chapter explains how Jesus Christ is the ultimate and final sacrifice, fulfilling the entire system of offerings detailed in Numbers 28.
Historical Context
King Solomon references this very system of daily, weekly, and festival offerings as he prepares to build the temple, showing its long-lasting importance.
Discussion Questions
- Numbers 28 lays out a very structured 'calendar' for worship. What are the benefits and potential dangers of having a highly structured spiritual life versus a more spontaneous one?
- The text repeatedly calls the offerings 'my food' from God's perspective (Numbers 28:2). What does this tell us about God's desire for a relationship with His people?
- After reading about this extensive system of sacrifices, how does it deepen your appreciation for what the New Testament says about Jesus being the 'Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world'?
Glossary
places
language
events
figures
theological concepts
Atonement
The act of making amends or covering for sin, which restores the relationship between God and humanity.
Burnt Offering
A sacrifice that was completely burned on the altar, symbolizing total dedication and surrender to God.
Holy Convocation
A sacred assembly or gathering of the people for the purpose of worship and rest on special holy days.
terms
Sin Offering
A sacrifice made to atone for unintentional sins, which purified the people and the sanctuary.
Grain Offering
An offering of fine flour, oil, and incense, representing a gift of gratitude to God from the fruit of one's labor.
Drink Offering
An offering of wine poured out before the Lord, often accompanying burnt or grain offerings.