Numbers 29

This chapter finishes the calendar of Israel’s yearly offerings. It covers the busy seventh month: the Feast of Trumpets on the first day, the Day of Atonement on the tenth, and the seven-day Feast of Booths from the fifteenth, closing with a solemn assembly on the eighth day. Through all of it, Israel is taught that worship means drawing near to God by sacrifice, with sin dealt with and joy kept in view.

Numbers 29:1

The seventh month opens with a day of rest and a holy gathering. The people stop ordinary work and hear trumpet blasts. It is a day set apart for God, a call to stop and turn toward Him before the great days of the month.

BSA: sacred (“holy, set-apart”): The day belongs to God, so it is not used like other days. trumpets (“ram’s horns, signal instruments”): These were simple horns whose sound called the people together and reminded them of God.

Hebrew: תְּרוּעָה (teruʿah, H8643) — “a loud blast, a shout.” The word is used for a joyful shout and also for an alarm. The blast was both a celebration and a wake-up call.

See also: Leviticus 23:23-25.

Numbers 29:2

On this day Israel brings a whole burnt offering: a young bull, a ram and seven lambs, all without defect. Everything goes up on the altar. It shows total devotion to God, and the offering rises to Him as a pleasing aroma.

BSA: burnt offering (“holocaust, completely consumed”): Nothing was held back; the whole animal was given to God. pleasing aroma (“sweet savor, fragrance”): God is pictured as welcoming what is offered in obedience.

Hebrew: עֹלָה (ʿolah, H5930) — “that which goes up.” The name pictures the offering rising in smoke to heaven. It is a gift lifted entirely toward God.

See also: Ephesians 5:2.

Numbers 29:3-4

Each animal comes with a grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil. The amount grows with the size of the animal: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, one-tenth for each lamb. God asks for the fruit of daily labor along with the blood of the animal.

BSA: fine flour (“the best meal”): God was given the best of the harvest, not leftovers.

Hebrew: מִנְחָה (minchah, H4503) — “gift, tribute.” The word is used for a gift given to someone greater. The grain offering was a thank-you from people who owed their food to God.

Numbers 29:5

One male goat is added as a sin offering. Before Israel can rejoice, sin must be covered. The goat takes the place of the worshipers so that they can stand before God forgiven.

BSA: atonement (“expiation, purification”): The goat removed the guilt that kept the people from God.

Hebrew: לְכַפֵּר (lekapper, H3722) — “to cover, to make atonement.” The root carries the idea of covering over or wiping away. It shows that God Himself provides a way for sin to be dealt with.

See also: Leviticus 17:11.

Numbers 29:6

These special offerings do not replace the regular ones. The daily and monthly sacrifices go on as usual. The festival is added on top of Israel’s steady, ongoing worship. God receives it all as a pleasing aroma.

BSA: daily (“continual”): The daily offering never stopped, so worship was a constant habit as well as a festival event.

Hebrew: רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ (reach nichoach, H7381) — “a soothing, restful aroma.” The word nichoach comes from the root for rest. It suggests that God is pleased and satisfied by obedient worship.

See also: Numbers 28:3-15.

Numbers 29:7

The tenth day is the Day of Atonement. Israel holds a holy assembly, stops all work, and humbles itself. This was understood as fasting and sorrow over sin. It was the most serious day of the year, a day to face sin honestly.

BSA: humble (“afflict, oppress”): The people brought themselves low, showing real sorrow rather than casual religion.

See also: Leviticus 16:29-31; Leviticus 23:27.

Numbers 29:8-10

The offerings for the Day of Atonement match those of the first day: a young bull, a ram, seven lambs, and their grain offerings in the same amounts. Again everything must be unblemished. God asks for the best, and gets it, even on a day of sorrow.

BSA: unblemished (“perfect, without defect”): The animals had to be flawless, which points to the purity God requires.

Numbers 29:11

A male goat is offered as a sin offering, in addition to the special atonement ritual of Leviticus 16 and the regular daily offering. The day was full of layers of sacrifice. All of it pointed to how seriously God takes sin and how generously He provides forgiveness.

BSA: atonement (“making things right with God, expiation”): The goal of the day was to restore the relationship between God and His people.

Hebrew: חַטָּאת (chatta’t, H2403) — “sin, or sin offering.” One Hebrew word means both the sin and the offering for sin. The sacrifice took on the name of what it dealt with.

See also: Leviticus 16:15-16; Hebrews 9:12.

Numbers 29:12

On the fifteenth day a seven-day feast begins, the Feast of Booths. It opens with a holy assembly and a rest from ordinary work. After the sober Day of Atonement, the mood turns to joy and thanksgiving before the LORD.

BSA: feast (“festival, celebration”): This was a time of rejoicing, not only duty.

Hebrew: חַג (chag, H2282) — “festival, pilgrim feast.” The word suggests a festival celebrated by gathering at God’s chosen place. It is a joyful event shared together.

See also: Leviticus 23:34-43.

Numbers 29:13

The Feast of Booths has the largest offerings of the year. On day one, thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen lambs are offered. The size of the sacrifice matches the size of the joy and the gratitude of the harvest season.

BSA: present (“to approach, come near”): The offerer brings the gift close to God, so the act is one of drawing near.

Hebrew: וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם (wehiqravtem, H7126) — “and you shall bring near.” This is the same root as the word for an offering. Sacrifice is a way of coming near to God.

Numbers 29:14-15

The grain offerings follow the same scale as before: three-tenths of an ephah of flour with each bull, two-tenths with each ram, one-tenth with each lamb. Everything is measured. God’s worship is ordered, so no one has to guess what is acceptable.

BSA: oil (“olive oil”): Olive oil mixed with the flour made the gift rich and fitting for God.

Numbers 29:16

One male goat is again offered as a sin offering, along with the regular daily offerings. Even in the greatest feast, forgiveness is not forgotten. The joy of the festival rests on sin having been dealt with.

BSA: regular (“continual, daily”): Even a festival week did not interrupt the daily offering.

Numbers 29:17-19

On the second day the pattern continues, but with twelve bulls instead of thirteen. The rams and lambs stay the same. The goat is offered as a sin offering, with the daily offering besides. Everything is done exactly as prescribed.

BSA: prescribed (“ordained, as the law requires”): The amounts were fixed by God, so no worshiper could change them.

Numbers 29:20-22

On the third day eleven bulls are offered, with the same two rams, fourteen lambs, and one goat. The repeated wording is deliberate. Each day gets the same careful attention, and no day of the feast is treated as less important.

BSA: unblemished (“without defect, flawless”): The animals had to be perfect each day.

Numbers 29:23-25

On the fourth day there are ten bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs and one goat. The number of bulls drops by one each day. Christians have seen various meanings in that pattern. The plain point is steady, faithful worship day after day.

BSA: regular (“continual, daily”): The daily offering carried on without a break.

Numbers 29:26-28

On the fifth day nine bulls are offered, with two rams, fourteen lambs, a goat for sin, and the daily offering. The repetition shows that worship is more than a single burst of feeling. It is a way of living in God’s presence.

BSA: offering (“apart from, besides”): These sacrifices came on top of the daily offering.

Numbers 29:29-31

On the sixth day eight bulls are offered, along with two rams, fourteen lambs and a goat. The offerings are still large, but the bulls keep decreasing. Each day the people come again with the same obedience, and each day they are received.

BSA: unblemished (“without blemish, perfect ones”): Only perfect animals could be offered, every day.

Numbers 29:32-34

The seventh day brings seven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs and one goat. Counting the whole week, the bulls total seventy. The feast has run its full course. Through all of it, God has been honored with the best and with thanksgiving.

BSA: seventh (“final”): This marks the last day of the week-long feast.

Numbers 29:35

The eighth day closes the season with a solemn assembly. Again there is no regular work. After a long week of feasting and sacrifices, the people come together one last time to be quiet before God.

BSA: solemn (“sacred, holy”): The day is set apart and serious, a holy ending.

Hebrew: עֲצֶרֶת (ʿatsereth, H6116) — “closing assembly, solemn gathering.” The word carries the idea of holding back or closing. It marks a final gathering to bring the festival season to its close.

See also: Leviticus 23:36.

Numbers 29:36-38

The offerings drop sharply: one bull, one ram, seven lambs and a goat for sin. The eighth day is quieter and simpler than the days before it. It is a gentle close, with sin still dealt with and the daily offering still in place.

BSA: pleasing aroma (“of a sweet savour”): Even this smaller offering was fully welcome to God.

Numbers 29:39

These offerings are for God’s appointed times. They do not replace personal gifts. Israelites could still bring vow offerings, freewill offerings and peace offerings. Required worship and willing generosity belong together.

BSA: freewill offerings (“voluntary gifts, spontaneous sacrifices”): These were given from a willing heart, with no command behind them. peace offerings (“sacrifices of fellowship, thanksgiving”): These were shared meals that celebrated peace with God.

Hebrew: מוֹעֲדֵיכֶם (moʿadeikhem, H4150) — “your appointed times.” The word means a set meeting time. God’s feasts are appointments He keeps with His people.

See also: Leviticus 23:37-38.

Numbers 29:40

Moses passed on everything exactly as the LORD commanded him. He did not add to it or leave anything out. The chapter closes by pointing to faithful teaching of God’s word, so that His people know how to worship Him.

BSA: commanded (“ordered, instructed”): Moses spoke as one under orders, passing on what God had told him.

See also: Hebrews 3:5.