Sacrifices (2)

Sacrifices (2)

Numbers 28

Numbers 28:16-31

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

16. Mense autem primo decima quarta die mensis, Pesah est Jehovae.

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

17. Et in decimo quinto die mensis hujus solennitas: septem diebus panis infermentatorum comedetur.

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

18. Die primo convocatio sancta erit: omne servile non facietis.

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 of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:

19. Offeretis autem oblationem ignitam, et holocaustum Jehovae juvencos fihos bovis duos, et arietem unum, et septem agnos anniculos: immaculati erunt vobis.

20. And 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;

20. Et minha eorum erit simila permixta oleo, tres decimae in singulos juvencos, et duas decimas in singulos arietes facietis.

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

21. Singulas decimas facies in agnos singulos in septem agnis.

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

22. Et hircum in sacrificium pro peccato unum, ad expiandum vos.

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

23. Praeter holocaustum matutinum: quod est holocaustum juge, facietis ista.

24. After 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.

24. Secundum haec facietis singulis diebus septem dierum, panem oblationis ignitae odoris quietis Jehovae: ultra holocaustum juge fiet, et libamen ejus.

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

25. Septimo autem die convocatio sancta erit vobis: omne opus servile non facietis.

26. Also 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:

26. Porro die primitiarum quando offeretis minham novato Jehovae in hebdomadibus vestris, convocatio sancta erit vobis: omne opus servile non facietis.

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 year;

27. Et offeretis holocaustum in odorem quietis Jehovah: juvencos filios bovis duos, arietem unum, et septem agnos anniculos.

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

28. Et oblationem eorum similam permixtam oleo, tres decimas in singulos juvencos, duas decimas per arietes singulos.

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

29. Singulas decimas per agnos singulos, septem agnis.

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

30. Hircum caprarum unum ad expiandum vos.

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

31. Praeter holocaustum juge et minham ejus facietis: immaculati erunt vobis et libamina eorum.

16. And in the fourteenth day. It is true that the instruction here given has some connection with the feast of the passover, but since the sacrifices are avowedly treated of, and no mention is made of its other observances, except in this place, I have connected it with the continual sacrifice, as its concomitant or part. Moses cursorily refers, indeed, to what we have already seen, i.e., that the people should abstain from leaven for seven days, and eat unleavened bread; but he afterwards descends to the main point of which he here proposed to treat, viz., that the people should slay two bullocks as a burnt-offering, a ram, and seven lambs, together with a goat for a sin-offering; and that this sacrifice should be repeated through the whole week. In order, then, that the reverence paid to the passover should be increased, this extraordinary sacrifice was added to the continual one, partly that they might thus be more and more stimulated to devote themselves to God; partly that they might acknowledge how familiarly He had embraced them with His favor, inasmuch as He took these offerings from their flocks and herds, and required the sacred feast to be prepared for Him out of their cellars and granaries also; partly, too, that professing themselves to be worthy of eternal death, they should fly to Him to ask for pardon, and at the same time should understand that there was but one way of reconciliation, i.e., when God should be propitiated by sacrifice.

26. Also in the day of thefirst-fruits. Moses delivers the same commandment as to another festival, viz., that on which they offered their first-fruits. Then, also, he instructs them, the continual sacrifice was to be increased by the addition of two bullocks, one ram, seven lambs, a goat for a sin-offering, together with the minha and a libation, with the object, of which I have already spoken. A perplexing difficulty here arises, because in Leviticus 23, one bullock is mentioned instead of two, and, on the contrary, two rams instead of one. Some think that an option was left to the priests in this matter; but when I consider how precisely God’s commands were given in everything, I question whether such an alternative was left to their discretion. The notion that God had once been content with a single bullock, as some think, because they were not abundant in the desert, appears to me a subterfuge. I confess I do not know how to get out of this difficulty, unless perhaps we say, that inasmuch as sufficiently exact provision had been made, in all other particulars, that nothing should be done without reason, in this respect only they were reminded that God in Himself cares not for greater or less victims. Nor does any reverence prevent us from saying that, as it sometimes happens in minor matters, a wrong number may have crept in from the carelessness of scribes; and this is probably the most natural solution. The more correct reading, in my opinion, is, that they should offer two bullocks and one ram; but since it is elsewhere explained why God appointed this day, he only briefly recites here: “When they bring the fainha with the first-fruits."

Note 238. “Josephus and Maimonides understand that they were distinct sacrifices. Aben-Ezra and others think that it was left to the priest which he would offer.” — Brightwell on the Pentateuch, in loco.

Note 239. The conjecture of C. receives no support from the modern collections of various readings; for though the number two is wanting in one of Kennicott’s MSS., the word for bullocks is in the plural in that same MS.; and the two most ancient versions, viz., the LXX. and the Syriac agree with the received text both here and in Leviticus 23:8. — W.

Numbers 29

Numbers 29:1-39

1. And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.

1. Mense autem septimo, primo die ejusdem, convocatio sancta erit vobis: nullum opus servile facietis, dies clangoris erit vobis.

2. And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish:

2. Et faeietis holocaustum in odorem quietis Jehovae, juvencum filium bovis unum, arietem unum, agnos anniculos septem immaculatos:

3. And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram,

3. Et minham eorum ex simila permixta oleo, tres decimas per singulos juvencos, duas decimas per singulos arietes:

4. And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

4. Et decimam unam per singulos agnos, per septem agnos.

5. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:

5. Et hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato, ad expiandum vos.

6. Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.

6. Praeter holocaustum calendarum, et minham ejus, et holocaustum juge, minham que ejus, et libamina eorum, secundum titus sues, in odorem quietis, oblatio ignita Jehovae.

7. And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:

7. Decimo autem die mensis septimi hujus, convocatio sancta erit vobis, affligetisque animus vestras: nullum opus facietis.

8. But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD for a sweet savour; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto you without blemish:

8. Et offeritis holocaustum Jehovae in odorem quietis, juvencum filium bovis unum, arietem unum, agnos anniculos septem: immaculati erunt vobis.

9. And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram,

9. Et minham eorum ex simila conspersa oleo, tres decimas in singulos juvencos, duas decimas in singulos arietes:

10. A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

10. Singulas decimas per agnos singulos, per septem agnos.

11. One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings.

11. Hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato: praeter oblationem pro peccato expiationum: et holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, libaminaque eorum.

12. And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:

12. Porre decimaquinta die mensis septimi, convocatio sancta erit vobis: nullum opus servile facietis, et celebrabitis solennitatem Jehovae septem diebus.

13. And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish:

13. Et holocaustum, et oblationem ignitam in odorem quietis Jehovae, juvencos filios bovis tredecim, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim: immaculati erunt.

14. And their meat-offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams,

14. Minham quoque eorum ex simila conspersa oleo, tres decimas in juvencos singulos tredecim juvencis: duas decimas in arietes singulos duobus arietibus.

15. And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs:

15. Et singulas declinus per agnos singulos, quatuordecim agnos.

16. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

16. Et hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato: prater holocaustum juge, minham ejus et libamen ejus.

17. And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:

17. Die autem secundo juvencos filios bovis duodecim, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

18. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

18. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum in juvencos, in arietes, in agnos secundum numerum eorum, juxta morem.

19. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings.

19. Et hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato: praeter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamina eorum.

20. And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish;

20. Die vero tertio juveneos undecim, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

21. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

21. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum, juxta morere.

22. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

22. Et hircum in sacrificium pro petcato unum, praeter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamen ejus.

23. And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

23. Die autem quarto juvencos decem, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

24. Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

24. Minham eorum et libamina eorum in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum, juxta morere.

25. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

25. Et hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato, praeter holocaustum juge, minham ejus et libamen ejus.

26. And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:

26. Et die quinto juvencos novem, arietes duos, agnos annietrios quatuordecim immaculatos.

27. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

27. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum, in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum, juxta morere.

28. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

28. Et hircum in sacrificium pro peccato unum, procter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamen ejus.

29. And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

29. Die praterea sexto jurenons otto, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

30. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

30. Et minham eormn, et libamina eorum in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum juxta morere.

31. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

31. Et hircum in sacrificium pro peccato unum: procter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamina ejus.

32. And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

32. Et die septimo juvencos septem, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

33. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

33. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum, in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum juxta morere.

34. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

34. Et hircum in sacrificium pro peccato unum, prfeter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamen ejus.

35. On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein:

35. Die octavo solennitas erit vobis: nullum opus servile facietis.

36. But ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish:

36. Et offeretis holocaustum, et oblationem ignitam odoris quietis jehovae, juvencum unum, arietem unum, agnos anniculos septem immaculatos:

37. Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

37. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum, in juvencum, in arietem, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum juxta morere.

38. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

38. Et hircum in sacrificium pro peccato unum: procter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamen ejus.

39. These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.

39. Ista facietis Jehovae in solemnitatibus vestris: prater vota vestra, et spontanea vestra in holocaustis vestris, et minhis vestris, et libaminibus vestris, et sacrificiis prosperitatum.

1 And in the seventh month. I have already observed that the festivals are not here (generally) treated of, but only the sacrifices, by which their solemnization was to be graced. In the beginning of the seventh month was the memorial, as it was called, of the blowing of trumpets. Because it was a minor festival, Moses only commands one bullock to be killed; but the number was increased on other grounds, for we have already seen that on the first of every month two bullocks were sacrificed. This day, therefore, had three larger victims, whilst the number of the others was doubled, so that there were two rams and fourteen lambs. Thus, then, God consecrated this day doubly to Himself, so that one celebration diminished nothing of the other; else He might have seemed to have abrogated what He had once commanded. The memorial of trumpets was not, then, an abolition of the new-moon, but they kept both ordinances at the same time.

7. And ye shall have on the tenth day. This was the day of Atonement. For although they never came into God’s presence without supplication for pardon, they then in a special manner confessed their sins, because a fast was appointed in token of their guilt. For thus it is written in Leviticus 23:29,

"Whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people."

As to the sacrifices, one bullock only is required; the rest is as before, except that an exception is added, which was omitted in the former cases. For another propitiation is appointed besides the goat, to accord with the fact of their affliction. For the acknowledgment of guilt would have been a dreadful torment to their consciences without the hope of reconciliation. The reason of this sacrifice will be soon explained.

12. And on the fifteenth, day. Amongst their festivals this last was the chief in which they dwelt in tabernacles for seven days; for whereas in the Passover they commemorated the night in which they came forth free from the plagues of Egypt, by dwelling in tabernacles they embraced the whole forty years in which their fathers in the desert experienced the constant and consummate bounty of God. That solemn convention, too, availed for another present purpose, i.e., of thanksgiving to God for the ingathering of the harvest. Hence it was that they offered sacrifices every day and in greater number: on the first day, thirteen bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs; on the second, twelve bullocks; on the third, eleven; on the fourth, ten; on the fifth, nine; on the sixth, eight; finally, on the seventh, seven; and on the eighth, one. Nor is it carelessly that Moses expends so many words on the recital; first, that nothing might be done except at God’s command; secondly, lest it should be disagreeable or onerous to be at such great expense, which they would have gladly avoided. Wherefore, that they might cheerfully obey God’s command, he diligently inculcates what victims God would have daily offered to Him. But why the distribution was so unequal, I confess, is not clear to me, and it is better to confess my ignorance than by too subtle speculations to vanish into mere smoke. This notion, indeed, is neither curious nor to be rejected, i.e., that, by daily diminishing the number, they came at last on the seventh day to the number seven, which is the symbol of perfection; for the eighth was superadded, merely as a conclusion. Finally, Moses subjoins that in the continual sacrifice, as well as these extraordinary ones, they should hold fast to what God prescribes, so that nothing should be altered according to man’s fancy. The sacrifices which depend on the Commandments of the Second Table, I have designedly postponed to their proper place.

Note 240. “La plus authentique.” — Fr.

Note 241. Scott’s conjecture is not without force: “The decrease of the number of the bullocks which were sacrificed on the several days of the feast, until on the last and great day only one was offered, is the most observable circumstance in this law. The reason is not evident, unless it be intimated that the Mosaic institution would gradually wax old, and at length vanish away when the promised Messiah came. (Hebrews 8:7-13.)” As a specimen of the ancient opinions, I subjoin the following, — “The Hebrews say that the offerings were made for other nations; and, therefore, seventy calves were offered altogether, according to the number of the seventy nations, divided into seventy languages. But fourteen calves were offered on the first day, and on the second day thirteen, thus decreasing one every day to the last inclusive; by which is designated that the dominion of the Gentiles was to be diminished and terminated under King Messiah, to whom all nations are to be subdued,” etc. — De Lyra, in loco.