Were the offerings in Numbers 28 and 29 individual or national offerings?
Question:
During our Bible study of the book of Numbers, one of our members asked if "each" individual had to make all those offerings?
My answer to the question was to notice the recurring phrase, "besides the regular burnt offering..." (Numbers 28:10, 15, 24, 31; 29:6, 11, 16, 19, 22, etc.). Therefore it is my understanding correct that all of the offerings in Num. 28-29 were for the nation, that is, in addition to their individual offerings?
Am I correct? I'm a bit confused about it.
Answer:
The offerings listed in Numbers 28 and 29 are national offerings. They were given at the temple on behalf of the nation.
There was a daily offering of two lambs every day. One in the morning and one in the evening. This sacrifice was doubled on the Sabbath day. Then at the beginning of each month, there was an offering of two bulls, one ram, seven lambs, and several grain offerings.
Each feast day also had special offerings. The Passover required the same as the monthly offering but given once each day for the seven days of the feast. Since the first and last days of this feast were special Sabbaths, the normal daily offering would have been doubled on these days as well. The feast of the First Fruits required the same sacrifice as the monthly offering and since it two was a special Sabbath, it would require double the daily offering. In the seventh month, the first month's sacrifice was doubled on the feast of the Trumpets. Another set of sacrifices, like the monthly offering, was given on the tenth of the month. Both the first and the tenth were special Sabbaths requiring the doubling of the daily offering.
The week of the Feast of Atonement, which started on the fifteenth of the seventh month required:
- Day 1: Thirteen bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs, and grain offerings.
- Day 2: Twelve bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs, and grain offerings.
- Day 3: Eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs, and grain offerings.
- Day 4: Ten bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs, and grain offerings.
- Day 5: Nine bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs, and grain offerings.
- Day 6: Eight bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs, and grain offerings.
- Day 7: Seven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs, and grain offerings.
- Day 8: One bull, one ram, seven lambs, and grain offerings.
The first day and eighth days were special Sabbaths requiring double the normal daily sacrifice as well.
These national sacrifices were independent of the individual offerings given.
