N
U M B E R S
CHAP. XXVIII.
Now
that the people were numbered, orders given for the dividing of the land, and
a general of the forces nominated and commissioned, one would have expected
that the next chapter should begin the history of the campaign, or at least
should give us an account of the ordinances of war; no, it contains the
ordinances of worship, and provides that now, as they were on the point of
entering Canaan, they should be sure to take their religion along with them,
and not forget this, in the prosecution of their wars, ver. 1, 2. The laws are
here repeated and summed up concerning the sacrifices that were to be offered,
I. Daily, ver. 3-8. II. Weekly, ver. 9, 10. III. Monthly, ver. 11-15. IV.
Yearly. 1. At the passover, ver. 16-25. 2. At pentecost, ver. 26-31. And the
next chapter is concerning the annual solemnities of the seventh month.
|
Laws
Concerning Sacrifices.
|
B.
C. 1452.
|
|
|
1 And the LORD
spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Command 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. 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 first year without spot day by day, for a continual
burnt offering. 4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning,
and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even; 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. 6 It is a continual burnt
offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice
made by fire unto the LORD.
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 strong
wine to be poured unto the LORD
for a drink offering. 8 And 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.
Here is, I. A general order given concerning the offerings of the Lord, which
were to be brought in their season, v. 2. These laws are here given
afresh, not because the observance of them was wholly disused during their
thirty-eight years' wandering in the wilderness (we cannot think that they
were so long without any public worship, but that at least the daily lamb was
offered morning and evening, and doubled on the sabbath day; so bishop Patrick
conjectures); but that many of the sacrifices were then omitted is plainly
intimated, Amos v. 25, quoted by Stephen, Acts vii. 42. Did you offer unto
me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?
It is implied, "No, you did not." But, whether the course of
sacrifices had been interrupted or no, God saw fit now to repeat the law of
sacrifices, 1. Because this was a new generation of men, that were most of
them unborn when the former laws were given; therefore, that they might be
left without excuse, they have not only these laws written, to be read to
them, but again repeated from God himself, and put into a less compass and a
plainer method. 2. Because they were now entering upon war, and might be
tempted to think that while they were engaged in that they should be excused
from offering sacrifices. Inter arma silent leges--law is little regarded
amidst the clash of arms. No, says God, my bread for my sacrifices
even now shall you observe to offer, and that in the due season.
They were peculiarly concerned to keep their peace with God when they were at
war with their enemies. In the wilderness they were solitary, and quite
separate from all other people, and therefore there they needed not so much
their distinguishing badges, nor would their omission of sacrifices be so
scandalous as when they came into Canaan, when they mingled with other people.
3. Because possession was now to be given them of the land of promise, that
land flowing with milk and honey, where they would have plenty of all good
things. "Now" (says God), "When you are feasting yourselves,
forget not to offer the bread of your God." Canaan was given to them upon
this condition, that they should observe God's statutes, Ps. cv. 44,
45.
II. The particular law of the daily sacrifice, a lamb in the morning and a
lamb in the evening, which, for the constancy of it as duly as the day came,
is called a continual burnt-offering (v. 3), which intimates
that when we are bidden to pray always, and to pray without ceasing, it
is intended that at least every morning and every evening we offer up our
solemn prayers and praises to God. This is said to be ordained in Mount
Sinai (v. 6), when the other laws were given. The institution of it
we have, Exod. xxix. 38. Nothing is here added in the repetition of the law,
but that the wine to be poured out in the drink-offering is ordered to be strong
wine (v. 7), the riches and most generous and best-bodied wine they
could get. Though it was to be poured out upon the altar, and not drunk (they
therefore might be ready to think the worst would serve to be so thrown away),
yet God requires the strongest, to teach us to serve God with the best we
have. The wine must be strong (says Ainsworth) because it was a figure of the
blood of Christ, the memorial of which is still left to the church in wine,
and of the blood of the martyrs, which was poured out as a drink-offering upon
the sacrifice and service of our faith, Phil. ii. 17.
9 And 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:
10 This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual
burnt offering, and his drink offering. 11 And 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; 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 offering, mingled with oil, for one ram; 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 savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto
the LORD.
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 fourth part of an hin
unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the
months of the year. 15 And one kid of the goats for a sin offering
unto the LORD
shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
The new moons and the sabbaths are often spoken of together, as great
solemnities in the Jewish church, very comfortable to the saints then, and
typical of gospel grace. Now we have here the sacrifices appointed, 1. For the
sabbaths. Every sabbath day the offering must be doubled; besides the two
lambs offered for the daily burnt-offering, there must be two more offered,
one (it is probable) added to the morning sacrifice, and the other to the
evening, v. 9, 10. This teaches us to double our devotions on sabbath
days, for so the duty of the day requires. The sabbath rest is to be observed,
in order to a more close application to the sabbath work, which ought to fill
up sabbath time. In Ezekiel's temple-service, which points at gospel times,
the sabbath offerings were to be six lambs and a ram, with their
meat-offerings, and drink-offerings (Ezek. xlvi. 4, 5), to intimate not only
the continuance, but the advancement, of sabbath sanctification in the days of
the Messiah. This is the burnt-offering of the sabbath in his sabbath,
so it is in the original, v. 10. We must do every sabbath day's work in
its day, studying to redeem every minute of sabbath time as those that believe
it precious; and not thinking to put off one sabbath's work to another, for
sufficient to every sabbath is the service thereof. 2. For the new moons. Some
suggest that, as the sabbath was kept with an eye to the creation of the
world, so the new moons were sanctified with an eye to the divine providence,
which appoints the moon for seasons, guiding the revolutions of time by
its changes, and governing sublunary bodies (as many think) by its influences.
Though we observe not any feast of new moons, yet we must not forget to give
God the glory of all the precious things put forth by the moon which he has established
for ever, a faithful witness in heaven, Ps. lxxxix. 37. The offerings in
the new moons were very considerable, two bullocks, a ram, and seven lambs,
with the meat-offerings and drink-offerings that were to attend them (v.
11, &c.), besides a sin-offering, v. 15. For, when we give glory to
God by confessing his mercies, we must give glory to him likewise by
confessing our own sins; and, when we rejoice in the gifts of common
providence, we must make the sacrifice of Christ, that great gift of special
grace, the fountain and spring-head of our joy. Some have questioned whether
the new moons were to be reckoned among their feasts; but why should they not,
when, besides the special sacrifices which were then to be offered, they
rested from servile works (Amos viii. 5), blew the trumpets (ch.
x. 10), and went to the prophets to hear the word? 2 Kings iv. 23. And
the worship performed in the new moons is made typical of gospel solemnities,
Isa. lxvi. 23.
16 And in the fourteenth
day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.
17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days
shall unleavened bread be eaten. 18 In the first day shall be
an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:
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: 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; 21 A several tenth deal
shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 22
And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.
23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is
for a continual burnt offering. 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. 25 And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy
convocation; ye shall do no servile work. 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: 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; 28 And
their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one
bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram, 29 A several tenth deal
unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs; 30 And one kid
of the goats, to make an atonement for you. 31 Ye shall offer them
beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be
unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.
Here is, I. The appointment of the pass-over sacrifices; not that which was
the chief, the paschal lamb (sufficient instructions had formerly been given
concerning that), but those which were to be offered upon the seven days of
unleavened bread, which followed it, v. 17-25. The first and last of
those seven days were to be sanctified as sabbaths, by a holy rest and a holy
convocation, and on each of the seven days they were to be liberal in their
sacrifices, in token of their great and constant thankfulness for their
deliverance out of Egypt: Two bullocks, a ram, and seven lambs. A
gospel conversation, in gratitude for Christ our passover who was
sacrificed, is called the keeping of this feast (1 Cor. v. 8); for it
is not enough that we purge out the leavened bread of malice and
wickedness, but we must offer the bread of our God, even the sacrifice of
praise, continually, and continue herein unto the end. 2. The sacrifices
are likewise appointed which were to be offered at the feast of pentecost,
here called the day of the first-fruits, v. 26. In the feast of
unleavened bread they offered a sheaf of their first-fruits of barley
(which with them was first ripe) to the priest (Lev. xxiii. 10), as an
introduction to the harvest; but now, about seven weeks after, they were to
bring a new meat-offering to the Lord, at the end of harvest, in
thankfulness to God, who had not only given, but preserved to their use,
the kindly fruits of the earth, so as that in due time they did enjoy them.
It was at this feast that the Spirit was poured out (Acts ii. 1,
&c.), and thousands were converted by the preaching of the apostles, and
were presented to Christ, to be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.
The sacrifice that was to be offered with the loaves of the first-fruits was
appointed, Lev. xxiii. 18. But over and above, besides that and besides the
daily offerings, they were to offer two bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs,
with a kid for a sin-offering, v. 27-30. When God sows plentifully
upon us he expects to reap accordingly from us. Bishop Patrick observes that
no peace-offerings are appointed in this chapter, which were chiefly
for the benefit of the offerers, and therefore in them they were left more to
themselves; but burnt-offerings were purely for the honour of God, were
confessions of his dominion, and typified evangelical piety and devotion, by
which the soul is wholly offered up to God in the flames of holy love; and sin-offerings
were typical of Christ's sacrifice of himself, by
which we and our services are perfected and sanctified.
Contents
|
Next
Section
