Numbers 28

Numbers 28

The big picture

Numbers 28 opens in verse 1 with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 16 with “And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD .”, and closes in verse 31 with “Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they…” Repeated or prominent terms include offering, burnt, offer, LORD, meat. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.

Scripture beside the summary

Numbers · King James Version · 31

Numbers 28:1-8

1–8: The LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Numbers 28:1–8 opens with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” and reaches “And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by offering, offer, LORD.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” By verse 4, the text has turned to “The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;” It lands on “And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker, 5 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

The covenant audience and the reason attached to each command show how worship, holiness, justice, mercy, and communal responsibility belong together. Words such as offering, offer, LORD, fire, lamb, drink tie the complete block together. The central idea, “the wording and movement of this passage,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Command, Israel, Moses, Sinai. Its number language includes two, one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 4: “The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: offering, offer, LORD, fire, lamb, drink

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Numbers 28:1

    “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  2. Numbers 28:2

    “Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  3. Numbers 28:3

    “And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD ; two lambs of the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  4. Numbers 28:4

    “The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

  5. Numbers 28:5

    “And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.” The line’s distinctive content terms include beaten, ephah, flour. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

  6. Numbers 28:6

    “It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto…” Naming Sinai keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

  7. Numbers 28:7

    “And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  8. Numbers 28:8

    “And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof…” The line’s distinctive content terms include offer, offering, drink. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

Numbers 28:1-8

King James Version

1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.

3And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD ; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.

4The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;

5And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.

6It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD .

7And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.

8And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD .

Numbers 28:9-16

9–16: On the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two…

Numbers 28:9–16 opens with “And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour…” and reaches “And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD .” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by offering, burnt, drink.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of…” By verse 12, the text has turned to “And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and…” It lands on “And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD .” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 4 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

The covenant audience and the reason attached to each command show how worship, holiness, justice, mercy, and communal responsibility belong together. Words such as offering, burnt, drink, flour, LORD, meat tie the complete block together. The central idea, “the wording and movement of this passage,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include offering, burnt, drink, flour, LORD. Its number language includes two, one, seven, three. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 12: “And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: offering, burnt, drink, flour, LORD, meat

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Numbers 28:9

    “And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

  2. Numbers 28:10

    “This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.” The line’s distinctive content terms include offering, burnt, continual. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

  3. Numbers 28:11

    “And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD ; two young bullocks, and one ram…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  4. Numbers 28:12

    “And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

  5. Numbers 28:13

    “And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

  6. Numbers 28:14

    “And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  7. Numbers 28:15

    “And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  8. Numbers 28:16

    “And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD .” The line’s distinctive content terms include first, fourteenth, LORD. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

Numbers 28:9-16

King James Version

9And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof:

10This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

11And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD ; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;

12And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram;

13And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD .

14And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.

15And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

16And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD .

Numbers 28:17-24

17–24: In the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall…

Numbers 28:17–24 opens with “And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.” and reaches “After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by offering, offer, burnt.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be…” By verse 20, the text has turned to “And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer…” It lands on “After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

The covenant audience and the reason attached to each command show how worship, holiness, justice, mercy, and communal responsibility belong together. Words such as offering, offer, burnt, seven, tenth, continual tie the complete block together. The central idea, “the wording and movement of this passage,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include offering, offer, burnt, seven, tenth. Its number language includes seven, two, one, three. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 19: “But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD ; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: offering, offer, burnt, seven, tenth, continual

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Numbers 28:17

    “And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  2. Numbers 28:18

    “In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  3. Numbers 28:19

    “But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD ; two young bullocks, and one ram, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  4. Numbers 28:20

    “And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  5. Numbers 28:21

    “A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

  6. Numbers 28:22

    “And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

  7. Numbers 28:23

    “Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  8. Numbers 28:24

    “After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

Numbers 28:17-24

King James Version

17And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.

18In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:

19But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD ; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:

20And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram;

21A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

22And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.

23Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.

24After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD : it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

Numbers 28:25-31

25–31: On the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no…

Numbers 28:25–31 opens with “And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.” and reaches “Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by offering, meat, tenth.

Deep dive

The movement opens with “And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.” By verse 28, the text has turned to “And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two…” It lands on “Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.

The covenant audience and the reason attached to each command show how worship, holiness, justice, mercy, and communal responsibility belong together. Words such as offering, meat, tenth, burnt, convocation, deals tie the complete block together. The central idea, “the wording and movement of this passage,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.

Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Also. Its number language includes two, one, seven, three. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 27: “But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD ; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.

Words to trace: offering, meat, tenth, burnt, convocation, deals

Verse-by-verse path

  1. Numbers 28:25

    “And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  2. Numbers 28:26

    “Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD , after your weeks be out, ye…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  3. Numbers 28:27

    “But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD ; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

  4. Numbers 28:28

    “And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram,” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

  5. Numbers 28:29

    “A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs;” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

  6. Numbers 28:30

    “And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

  7. Numbers 28:31

    “Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

Numbers 28:25-31

King James Version

25And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.

26Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD , after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:

27But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD ; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year;

28And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram,

29A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs;

30And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you.

31Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.

Questions to keep in mind while reading

  1. Identify the people addressed and the covenant setting.
  2. Distinguish rescue, worship, holiness, justice, and community responsibility.
  3. Read commands in their literary and covenant context before making a modern application.

Text first

Where readers differ

The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.

The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.

Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.

Questions beneath the surface

  1. What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Numbers 28?
  2. Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
  3. What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
  4. Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?

Questions for serious personal contemplation

These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.

Observe without rushing

  1. What part of Numbers 28 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?

  2. Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?

  3. Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Numbers 28:1–31 completes a passage that was not covered by the original study-unit map. Its own wording and immediate context supply the focus.?

  4. What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?

Examine your inner life honestly

  1. Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?

  2. What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?

  3. Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?

  4. If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?

Respond with wisdom and courage

  1. What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?

  2. How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?

  3. What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?

  4. What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?