Bible in 365 Days

Numbers 28-30

Numbers 28

This and the next chapter contain a repetition of laws concerning the great religious observances of the nation. This repetition is an orderly statement covering the whole year and, indeed, showing its relationship in every period to spiritual matters. It was thus set forth on the eve of their entering on possession of the land in order that the arrangements for worship might be duly made and properly carried out.

First we have the religious rites appointed for the small time divisions. Daily sacrifices were arranged for (Numbers 28:1-8), weekly offerings which were to be made on the Sabbath were named (Numbers 28:9-10), and the monthly offerings appointed (Numbers 28:11-15).

A study of these will show how there was an increase in the number of the sacrifices and the importance of the religious rites in each enlarging section of time. Daily, one lamb in the morning and one in the evening; on the Sabbath two he-lambs in addition to the continual burnt offering; in the beginnings of the months two young bullocks, one ram, and seven he-lambs, all in addition to continual burnt offering.

Then follow instructions concerning the observances marking the springtime, the feast of Passover forever reminding them of the divine deliverance by which they had become a nation formed the commencement of the year. Following this, after an interval, came the feast of Pentecost in which the first fruits were offered to God.

Numbers 29

Continuing the laws concerning the feasts as they governed the year, the celebrations of the autumn were next dealt with. Three feasts are mentioned -First, the feast of Trumpets (verses Numbers 29:1-6), then the great day of Atonement (Numbers 29:7-11), and, finally, more particularly described here than any of the others or than elsewhere, the feast of Tabernacles (Numbers 29:12-40).

A study of these arrangements will show again how the increase in sacrifices noticed from the daily offering to the monthly is yet more remarkably manifest in these annual festivals.

Thus the whole year was covered and conditioned by these solemn religious rites and ceremonies. Every day as it broke and passed, every week as it began, every month as it opened, every year both as it commenced and closed was sealed with the sacred matters which ever spoke to the people of the relation they bore to God, as based on sacrifice and expressing itself in service.

Numbers 30

In this section the subject of vows was dealt with and principally those of women. A man's vow was declared to be absolutely binding. No provision was made for release. In the case of women this was not so. If a woman dwelling in her father's house took a vow, the father had the power to forbid.

If he did not do so, then the vow became binding. In the case of a woman dwelling with her husband, the husband had the like power. Similarly, if he did not exercise it, the vow became binding. In the case of a widow or one divorced, if her vow was made in her widowhood or while she was divorced, it was absolutely binding.

If it was made while she dwelt with her husband and he forbad it, she was released. If not, she also was bound by it.

These provisions are most arresting in revealing as they do the divine conception of the importance and necessity for the unity of the household. There must not be two supreme authorities in any family and here as always in the economy of God the responsibility of headship was with the husband and father. It can readily be seen how, were this otherwise, even through religious vows, discord and probable breakup in family life might ensue. Therefore as the nation approached settlement in the land, the integrity of the family was thus carefully safeguarded.