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Numbers 29

40 verses

TL;DR

Numbers 29 details the prescribed burnt and sin offerings for the Passover and the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, outlining the numbers of animals and the timing of each day.

Summary

Chapter 29 of Numbers prescribes the sacrificial rites for Israel on the first, tenth, and fifteenth days of the seventh month, marking the Passover and the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. On the first day, a full offering of thirteen bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs, each without blemish, is presented. The following days—tenth and fifteenth—include both a burnt offering and a sin offering, with the numbers of animals decreasing each day from thirteen to one bullock, accompanied by rams and lambs. The chapter continues to enumerate the offerings for days two through eight, indicating a systematic reduction in the quantity of sacrificial animals to commemorate the Passover and to observe the week-long festival. Each offering includes a meat portion made of flour mixed with oil and corresponding drink offerings. The instructions are concluded with Moses reporting these commands to the Israelites, emphasizing their role in the set feasts and covenantal worship.

Outline
  1. Passover Day – full sacrificial offering (verses 1‑4).
  2. Commencement of the Feast of Unleavened Bread – detailed offerings for the tenth and fifteenth days (verses 7‑18).
  3. Daily diminishing offerings over the remaining seven days of the feast (verses 19‑38).
Themes
Communal worship and covenant observanceAtonement through sacrificial ritesThe significance of the Passover and Unleavened Feast
Keywords
burnt offeringsin offeringUnleavened BreadPassovercovenantsacrificefeastIsraelMoses
People
Moses
Places
Israel (the land)
Things
burnt offeringsin offeringmeat offeringdrink offeringflour with oilbullockramlambkid/goatFeast of Unleavened BreadPassover
Key Verses
  • Numbers 29:1: Marks the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread with the first offering.
  • Numbers 29:13: Describes the full offering on the first day of Passover.
  • Numbers 29:35: Summarizes the completion of the week-long offerings and the communal assembly.
Questions
  • What does the decreasing number of sacrificial animals signify about the nature of the Passover?
  • How do the burnt and sin offerings together reflect Israel’s relationship with God?
  • Why might the instructions include both a feast and a covenantal assembly?
  • In what ways does this chapter underscore the importance of obedience to divine command?
  • How does the structure of the offerings reinforce communal identity among Israel?
  • What parallels can be drawn between these ancient practices and contemporary expressions of worship?
  • How does the text emphasize the role of Moses as a conduit of divine instruction?
Sentiment

neutral
The chapter presents legalistic instructions without emotive language.