Numbers 28:16 Kommentar

Now that the people were numbered, orders given for the dividing of the land, and a general of the forces nominated and commissioned, one would have expected that the next chapter should begin the history of the campaign, or at least should give us an account of the ordinances of war; no, it contains the ordinances of worship, and provides that now, as they were on the point of entering Canaan, they should be sure to take their religion along with them, and not forget this, in the prosecution of their wars (Num 28:1, Num 28:2). The laws are here repeated and summed up concerning the sacrifices that were to be offered, I. Daily (Num 28:3-8). II. Weekly (Num 28:9, Num 28:10). III. Monthly (Num 28:11-15). IV. Yearly. 1. At the passover (Num 28:16-25). 2. At pentecost (Num 28:26-31). And the next chapter is concerning the annual solemnities of the seventh month.

Here is, I. The appointment of the pass-over sacrifices; not that which was the chief, the paschal lamb (sufficient instructions had formerly been given concerning that), but those which were to be offered upon the seven days of unleavened bread, which followed it, Num 28:17-25. The first and last of those seven days were to be sanctified as sabbaths, by a holy rest and a holy convocation, and on each of the seven days they were to be liberal in their sacrifices, in token of their great and constant thankfulness for their deliverance out of Egypt: Two bullocks, a ram, and seven lambs. A gospel conversation, in gratitude for Christ our passover who was sacrificed, is called the keeping of this feast (Co1 5:8); for it is not enough that we purge out the leavened bread of malice and wickedness, but we must offer the bread of our God, even the sacrifice of praise, continually, and continue herein unto the end. 2. The sacrifices are likewise appointed which were to be offered at the feast of pentecost, here called the day of the first-fruits, Num 28:26. In the feast of unleavened bread they offered a sheaf of their first-fruits of barley (which with them was first ripe) to the priest (Lev 23:10), as an introduction to the harvest; but now, about seven weeks after, they were to bring a new meat-offering to the Lord, at the end of harvest, in thankfulness to God, who had not only given, but preserved to their use, the kindly fruits of the earth, so as that in due time they did enjoy them. It was at this feast that the Spirit was poured out (Act 2:1, etc.), and thousands were converted by the preaching of the apostles, and were presented to Christ, to be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures. The sacrifice that was to be offered with the loaves of the first-fruits was appointed, Lev 23:18. But over and above, besides that and besides the daily offerings, they were to offer two bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs, with a kid for a sin-offering, Num 28:27-30. When God sows plentifully upon us he expects to reap accordingly from us. Bishop Patrick observes that no peace-offerings are appointed in this chapter, which were chiefly for the benefit of the offerers, and therefore in them they were left more to themselves; but burnt-offerings were purely for the honour of God, were confessions of his dominion, and typified evangelical piety and devotion, by which the soul is wholly offered up to God in the flames of holy love; and sin-offerings were typical of Christ's sacrifice of himself, by which we and our services are perfected and sanctified.

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 28 In this chapter is a repetition of several laws concerning sacrifices, as the law of the daily sacrifice morning and evening, Num 28:1 of those that were offered every week on the sabbath day, Num 28:9 and every month on the first day of the month, Num 28:11 and on the seven days of unleavened bread, Num 28:16, and at the feast of weeks, Num 28:26.

And in the fourteenth day of the first month,.... The month Nisan, as the Targum of Jonathan or Abib, which, upon the Israelites coming out of Egypt, and on that account, was made the first month; otherwise Tisri or September was the first month, see Exo 12:2, is the passover of the Lord; a feast in which a lamb was killed and eaten, in memory of the Lord's passing over the houses of the Israelites, when he slew the firstborn in Egypt; see Exo 12:6.

The blessings which God pronounces on the obedient, Deu 28:1-6. Particular privileges which the faithful shall receive, Deu 28:7-13. The curses pronounced against the ungodly and idolatrous, Deu 28:14-19. A detailed account of the miseries which should be inflicted on them, should they neglect the commandments of the Lord, Deu 28:20. They shall be smitten with the pestilence, Deu 28:21; with consumption, fever, etc., Deu 28:22; drought and barrenness, Deu 28:23, Deu 28:24; they shall be defeated by their enemies, Deu 28:25, Deu 28:26; they shall be afflicted with the botch of Egypt, Deu 28:27; with madness and blindness, Deu 28:28, Deu 28:29; they shall be disappointed in all their projects, Deu 28:30; deprived of all their possessions, and afflicted in all their members, Deu 28:31-35; they and their king shall go into captivity, Deu 28:36, and become a by-word among the nations, Deu 28:37. Their land shall be unfruitful, and they shall be the lowest of all people, Deu 28:38-44. All these curses shall come on them should they be disobedient, Deu 28:45-48. Character of the people by whom they should be subdued, Deu 28:49, Deu 28:50. Particulars of their dreadful sufferings, Deu 28:51-57. A recapitulation of their wretchedness, Deu 28:58-63. The prediction that they shall be scattered among all the nations of the earth, Deu 28:64-68.

OFFERINGS TO BE OBSERVED. (Num. 28:1-31) Command the children of Israel, and say unto them--The repetition of several laws formerly enacted, which is made in this chapter, was seasonable and necessary, not only on account of their importance and the frequent neglect of them, but because a new generation had sprung up since their first institution and because the Israelites were about to be settled in the land where those ordinances were to be observed. My offering, and my bread--used generally for the appointed offerings, and the import of the prescription is to enforce regularity and care in their observance.

in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover--The law for that great annual festival is given (Lev 23:5), but some details are here introduced, as certain specified offerings are prescribed to be made on each of the seven days of unleavened bread [Num 28:18-25].

The same number of sacrifices as at the new moon were to be offered on every one of the seven days of the feast of unleavened bread (Mazzoth), from the 15th to the 21st of the month, whereas there was no general festal offering on the day of the Passover, or the 14th of the month (Exo 12:3-14). With regard to the feast of Mazzoth, the rule is repeated from Exo 12:15-20 and Lev 23:6-8, that on the first and seventh day there was to be a Sabbath rest and holy meeting.