Numbers 28

The Lord accepted special gifts as a pleasing aroma (compare 15:3). This means God accepted and enjoyed these gifts (see also Genesis 8:21; Leviticus 1:9; Ephesians 5:2; Philippians 4:18). The priests made offerings at set times following specific instructions (see Numbers 28:3–29:39).

• These two chapters describe Israel's ceremonial calendar. It listed daily, weekly, and monthly offerings, along with annual religious events. God instructed Israel to worship him "in a proper and orderly manner" (1 Corinthians 14:40).

  The annual sacrifices required many animals, grain, oil, and wine. On these special days, Israel stopped their usual work. This was a sacrifice that emphasized the importance of these holy days.

  The annual cycle included eight different occasions for worship, each reflecting Israel's relationship with the Lord. Each event involved different combinations of burnt, grain, liquid, or sin offerings.

• For details on grain and liquid offerings, see Numbers 15:1–16. For explanations of different offerings, see Leviticus 1:1–7:38. For a description of Israel's festivals, see Leviticus 23:1–44. For the New Testament view on the Old Testament sacrificial system, see John 1:29; Romans 12:1; Hebrews 9:9–15; 10:1–2; 1 Peter 2:5.

the food: See study notes on Exodus 29:18 and Deuteronomy 8:2.

• The daily offering was the foundation of the sacrificial system. This practice began at Mount Sinai (see Exodus 29:38–46).

• fermented drink: Compare Numbers 6:3; Leviticus 10:9; Deuteronomy 14:26.

Special days required extra offerings. On the Sabbath, people made a sacrifice in addition to the regular burnt offering and its liquid offering. Other passages emphasize the importance of the Sabbath (for example, Exodus 20:8–11; Leviticus 23:3; Deuteronomy 5:12–15).

The first day of each month was the new moon. On that day, the people sacrificed bulls, rams, and lambs as burnt offerings. They also sacrificed a male goat as a sin offering (an offering for forgiveness of sin).

The Passover, followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, was the first of five major annual feasts. It took place in early spring (March or April). The Passover did not require public sacrifices. It was a family event celebrated at home (see also 9:1–4; Exodus 12:1–13:10; Leviticus 23:5–8; Deuteronomy 16:1–8).

This festival is important in the background of the Last Supper (see Matthew 26:17–19, 26–27; Mark 14:12; John 11:55; 12:1; 13:1; 18:28, 39; 19:14, 31; compare 1 Corinthians 5:7).

The Feast of Weeks was later called the Feast of Pentecost (see Acts 2:1; also Leviticus 23:15–22). It marked the end of the barley harvest and the start of the wheat harvest in early summer (May or June). The Greek name Pentecost means “fiftieth.” It refers to the fiftieth day after Passover (see Acts 20:16; 1 Corinthians 16:8).