ScriptureDepth's study of Numbers 29
“besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and its meal offering, and the continual burnt offering and its meal offering, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.”
Numbers 29:6
Moses communicates Yahweh's requirements for offerings to the Israelites, and this verse outlines the specific burnt and meal offerings for a 'pleasant aroma' to Yahweh.
What Numbers 29 is about
On the first day of the seventh month, the Israelites are to have a holy convocation. They must not do regular work. They are to blow trumpets and offer a burnt offering, which includes a young bull, a ram, and seven male lambs without defect (vv. 1-6).
On the tenth day, they will have another holy convocation. They must afflict their souls and offer the same types of burnt offerings (vv. 7-11). On the fifteenth day, they begin the Feast of Tabernacles with another holy convocation. They will keep a feast for seven days, offering many animals, including thirteen young bulls (vv. 12-16). Daily offerings are required during this feast, with the number of bulls decreasing each day from twelve to seven (vv. 17-34). On the eighth day, they will hold a solemn assembly and offer more sacrifices, including one bull and one ram (vv. 35-40).
The Israelites are to offer these sacrifices during their set feasts and in addition to their vows and freewill offerings.
Numbers 29 at a glance
- Numbers 29:1–6Feast of Trumpets Requirements
- Numbers 29:7–11Day of Atonement Offerings
- Numbers 29:12–16Feast of Tabernacles Initiation
- Numbers 29:17–34Daily Offerings During the Feast
- Numbers 29:35–40Final Day and Summary of Offerings
Key verse: Numbers 29:6
One thing to notice
For the Feast of Tabernacles, Numbers 29 specifies a decrease in the number of bulls offered, from thirteen on the first day to seven on the seventh day (verses 12-34). The phrase 'according to their number, after the ordinance' is repeated throughout the verses related to the offerings.
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
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Feast of Trumpets Requirements Numbers 29:1–6
1Verse 1. “‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no regular work: it is a day of blowing of trumpets to you. 2Verse 2. You shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defect; 3Verse 3. and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for the bull, two tenths for the ram, 4Verse 4. and one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs; 5Verse 5. and one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you;
6Verse 6. besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and its meal offering, and the continual burnt offering and its meal offering, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
Day of Atonement Offerings Numbers 29:7–11
7Verse 7. “‘On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall afflict your souls. You shall do no kind of work; 8Verse 8. but you shall offer a burnt offering to Yahweh for a pleasant aroma: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old; all without defect; 9Verse 9. and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for the bull, two tenths for the one ram, 10Verse 10. one tenth for every lamb of the seven lambs: 11Verse 11. one male goat for a sin offering; besides the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and their drink offerings.
Feast of Tabernacles Initiation Numbers 29:12–16
12Verse 12. “‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. You shall keep a feast to Yahweh seven days. 13Verse 13. You shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; all without defect; 14Verse 14. and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each ram of the two rams, 15Verse 15. and one tenth for every lamb of the fourteen lambs; 16Verse 16. and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.
Daily Offerings During the Feast Numbers 29:17–34
17Verse 17. “‘On the second day you shall offer twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 18Verse 18. and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; 19Verse 19. and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering and their drink offerings. 20Verse 20. “‘On the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 21Verse 21. and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
22Verse 22. and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering. 23Verse 23. “‘On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 24Verse 24. their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; 25Verse 25. and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering. 26Verse 26. “‘On the fifth day nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 27Verse 27. and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
28Verse 28. and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering. 29Verse 29. “‘On the sixth day eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 30Verse 30. and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; 31Verse 31. and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and the drink offerings of it. 32Verse 32. “‘On the seventh day seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect;
33Verse 33. and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; 34Verse 34. and one male goat for a sin offering; besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.
Final Day and Summary of Offerings Numbers 29:35–40
35Verse 35. “‘On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly: you shall do no regular work; 36Verse 36. but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defect; 37Verse 37. their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the ordinance: 38Verse 38. and one male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering, and its drink offering. 39Verse 39. “‘You shall offer these to Yahweh in your set feasts, besides your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meal offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.’”
40Verse 40. Moses told the children of Israel according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses.
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Numbers 29
Worship and Sacrifice
In Numbers 29, worship and sacrifice are central during the designated feasts. For instance, in v. 2, the people are instructed to offer a 'burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh,' specifying the types and quantities of animals. The chapter details the required offerings for each holy day, culminating in the requirements for the eighth day in vv. 35-38. This systematic approach to offerings highlights the significance of sacrificial worship.
Community and Covenant
Numbers 29 establishes a framework for community gatherings through the observance of holy convocations. In v. 1, the command for a 'holy convocation' on the first day of the seventh month calls for shared communal worship. This is reiterated with the collective observance on the Day of Atonement in v. 7 and during the Feast of Tabernacles, showing the community's covenant relationship with Yahweh as they fulfill their obligations together.
Remembrance of God's Deliverance
The chapter includes offerings that serve as acts of remembrance for God's deliverance during significant festivals. On the Day of Atonement in v. 9, a 'male goat for a sin offering' is presented, acknowledging the need for atonement and remembering past deliverance. This theme runs throughout the chapter, as each festival provides the community a time to recall their history and God's faithfulness, culminating in the offerings detailed in vv. 39-40.
The Importance of Festivals
Festivals play a crucial role in the life of the Israelite community as outlined in Numbers 29, marking specific times for worship. The chapter begins with the Feast of Trumpets in v. 1 and elaborates on the Feast of Tabernacles in vv. 12-16, detailing the offerings required for each day of celebration. These festivals are presented as essential to the community's rhythm of life and worship, fostering unity and devotion to Yahweh throughout the year.
Chapter outline
How Numbers 29 unfolds
Numbers 29:1–6 Feast of Trumpets Requirements
On the first day of the seventh month, a holy convocation is commanded along with offerings, including 'one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs' without defect (vv. 1-6).
Numbers 29:7–11 Day of Atonement Offerings
The tenth day requires a holy convocation with a focus on atonement through affliction of souls and specific offerings, including another 'one male goat for a sin offering' (vv. 7-11).
Numbers 29:12–16 Feast of Tabernacles Initiation
The fifteenth day marks the start of the Feast of Tabernacles, during which a seven-day festival is held with prescribed offerings including 'thirteen young bulls' (vv. 12-16).
Numbers 29:17–34 Daily Offerings During the Feast
Daily offerings during the Feast are specified, decreasing in number from twelve bulls on the second day to seven on the seventh day while including consistent offerings of lambs and rams (vv. 17-34).
Numbers 29:35–40 Final Day and Summary of Offerings
The instructions conclude with directives for the offerings on the eighth day along with a summary that encompasses various types of offerings besides regular obligations (vv. 35-40).
Key verses
Numbers 29:6Moses communicates Yahweh's requirements for offerings to the Israelites, and this verse outlines the specific burnt and meal offerings for a 'pleasant aroma' to Yahweh.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Numbers 29
- observeIn v2, what type of offering is mentioned as a 'burnt offering'?
- observeWhat is the total number of 'young bulls' offered on the second day as per v17?
- interpretIn vv. 37-38, why is the 'male goat for a sin offering' included after specifying the burnt offering?
- interpretIn v26, why is the number of 'nine bulls' significant for the offerings on the fifth day?
- applyWhen have you had to make a sacrifice for a group, as described in the offerings for 'your set feasts' (v39)?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Numbers 29
- Numbers 28Numbers 29:18 and Numbers 28:7Both offer drink offerings: Numbers 29:18 mentions offerings for bulls, while Numbers 28:7 specifies a drink offering for one lamb.
- Leviticus 23Numbers 29:1 and Leviticus 23:24Both call for a holy convocation: Numbers 29:1 states it's a day of trumpets, while Leviticus 23:24 labels it a memorial.
- Leviticus 16Numbers 29:11 and Leviticus 16:3Both include sin offerings: Numbers 29:11 mentions a male goat, while Leviticus 16:3 describes a young bull.
- Ezra 3Numbers 29:12 and Ezra 3:4Both mention a holy convocation: Numbers 29:12 instructs to keep a feast, while Ezra 3:4 refers to the feast of tents.
- Numbers 15Numbers 29:18 and Numbers 15:4Both prescribe meal offerings: Numbers 29:18 details offerings for various animals, while Numbers 15:4 specifies fine flour.
- John 7Numbers 29:35 and John 7:37Both speak of a solemn assembly: Numbers 29:35 commands no regular work, while John 7:37 invites the thirsty to drink.
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