Chapter 28 of Numbers explains in detail the regulations regarding the regular sacrifices that the Israelites were to offer. Through Moses, God specified the specific procedures of sacrifice and the type and amount of sacrifice to be offered in each sacrifice. This chapter provides a glimpse of the regulations regarding sacrifices and explains the sacrifices to be offered daily, weekly, monthly, and during major festivals.
1. Daily sacrifice (28:1-8)
- Daily burnt offering : Every day, in the morning and evening, two year-old lambs without blemish are offered as a burnt offering. This means giving the beginning and end of each day to God.
- Morning burnt offering: One lamb mixed with 1/10 ephah of fine flour mixed with oil.
- Evening burnt offering: Offered in the same way as the morning offering.
- Drink offering to accompany each burnt offering: 1/4 hin of wine is poured.
2. Weekly sacrifice (28:9-10)
- Sabbath Burnt Offering : Every Sabbath, in addition to the daily burnt offering, two one-year-old lambs without blemish are offered as a burnt offering.
- With each lamb we give you 2/10 ephah of fine flour mixed with oil.
- Drink offering: 1/4 hin of wine is poured.
3. Monthly sacrifices (28:11-15)
- New Moon Burnt Offering : On the first day of every month, the following offerings are offered as burnt offerings.
- two steers
- a ram
- Seven lambs, one year old, without blemish
- With each offering, a grain offering is made by mixing fine powder with oil.
- 3/10 eva of fine flour per bullock.
- 2/10 ephah of fine flour per ram
- 1/10 eva of fine flour per lamb
- Drink offering: Wine is poured according to each offering.
- Sin offering: A male goat is offered for atonement.
4. Passover and Unleavened Bread (28:16-25)
- Passover : Passover is celebrated on the 14th day of the first month.
- Feast of Unleavened Bread : The Feast of Unleavened Bread is celebrated for 7 days starting from the 15th day of the first month.
- On the first and seventh days, we gather for a holy meeting and do no work.
- Daily burnt offerings: two bulls, one ram, and seven year-old lambs without blemish, each with a grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil and a drink offering.
- Sin offering: A male goat is offered.
5. Feast of Harvest (28:26-31)
- Feast of Weeks : It is a feast observed after seven weeks.
- Burnt offerings: Two bulls, one ram, and seven year-old lambs without blemish, each with a grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil and a drink offering.
- Sin offering: A male goat is offered.
summary
Chapter 28 of Numbers shows how elaborate and important the sacrifices offered to God were. Through sacrifices offered to God every day, week, month, and at major festivals, the Israelites hoped to maintain a relationship with God and receive his grace and protection. These sacrifices foreshadow the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the New Testament and remind us of the importance of spiritual worship.