וּבַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ מִקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם כָּל־מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ יֹום תְּרוּעָה   29:1

יִהְיֶה לָכֶם

Numb. 29:1  ‘And in the seventh month on the month’s first day a holy convocation shall be for you.  You shall not do any work of servitude.  It shall be a day of horn blowing for you.’

וַעֲשִׂיתֶם עֹלָה לְרֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה פַּר בֶּן־בָּקָר אֶחָד אַיִל אֶחָד כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה שִׁבְעָה תְּמִיםִם   29:2

Numb. 29:2  ‘And you shall prepare a burnt offering for a sweet scent to the Lord of one bullock calf, one ram, seven he-lamb yearlings without blemish,

וּמִנְחָתָם סֹלֶת בְּלוּלָה בַשָּׁמֶן שְׁלֹשָׁה עֶשְׂרֹנִים לַפָּר שְׁנֵי עֶשְׂרֹנִים לָאָיִל   29:3

Numb. 29:3  and their meal offerings of fine flour mingled with oil, three tenths for the bullock, two tenths for the ram,

וְעִשָּׂרֹון אֶחָד לַכֶּבֶשׂ הָאֶחָד לְשִׁבְעַת הַכְּבָשִׂים   29:4

Numb. 29:4  and one tenth for each lamb for the seven lambs,

וּשְׂעִיר־עִזִּים אֶחָד חַטָּאת לְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם   29:5

Numb. 29:5  and one male goat, a sin offering to make atonement for you,

מִלְּבַד עֹלַת הַחֹדֶשׁ וּמִנְחָתָהּ וְעֹלַת הַתָּמִיד וּמִנְחָתָהּ וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם כְּמִשְׁפָּטָם לְרֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָה   29:6

Numb. 29:6  besides the burnt offering of the new moon and its meal offering and the daily burnt offering and its meal offering and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, for the sweet scent of a fire offering to the Lord.’

וּבֶעָשֹׂור לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי הַזֶּה מִקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם וְעִנִּיתֶם אֶת־נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם כָּל־מְלָאכָה לֹא    29:7

תַעֲשׂוּ

Numb. 29:7  ‘And on the tenth of this seventh month, a holy convocation shall be for you, and you shall humble your souls; you shall not do any work,

All other translations I have consulted have “you shall afflict your souls,” and that has been interpreted as meaning you shall go without food or water.  But look at the next four verses.  They reveal something absolutely remarkable. Offerings are required to be brought on Yom Kippur!  What does that say about fasting?   As we have learned, parts of the offerings are meant to be eaten the day of the offering.  Then what does “you shall afflict your souls” mean?  I believe that the translation I offer is the correct one.  And it doesn’t mean to fast.  It means to be contrite, to bow down, to submit ourselves to the Lord, to humiliate ourselves, to be occupied with our souls.  Now, mind you, I find little wrong with fasting in order to help us properly humble ourselves.  But, because of these verses, I don’t see it as a commandment.  In fact, on the contrary, I see it as a commandment to partake of the sacrificial offerings on this day.   See more on this accompanying Levi. 23:27.

וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם עֹלָה לַיהוָה רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ פַּר בֶּן־בָּקָר אֶחָד אַיִל אֶחָד כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה שִׁבְעָה תְּמִיםִם   29:8

יִהְיוּ לָכֶם

Numb. 29:8  and you shall bring a burnt offering to the Lord, a sweet scent, of one bullock calf, one ram, seven he-lamb yearlings – they shall be without blemish to you –

וּמִנְחָתָם סֹלֶת בְּלוּלָה בַשָּׁמֶן שְׁלֹשָׁה עֶשְׂרֹנִים לַפָּר שְׁנֵי עֶשְׂרֹנִים לָאַיִל הָאֶחָד   29:9

Numb. 29:9  and their meal offering of fine flour mingled with oil, three tenths for the bullock, two tenths for the one ram,

עִשָּׂרֹון עִשָּׂרֹון לַכֶּבֶשׂ הָאֶחָד לְשִׁבְעַת הַכְּבָשִׂים   29:10

Numb. 29:10   a tenth, a tenth for each lamb, for the seven lambs,

שְׂעִיר־עִזִּים אֶחָד חַטָּאת מִלְּבַד חַטַּאת הַכִּפֻּרִים וְעֹלַת הַתָּמִיד וּמִנְחָתָהּ וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם   29:11

Numb. 29:11   one male goat for a sin offering, besides the sin offering of atonement and the daily burnt offering and its meal offering, and their drink offerings.’

וּבַחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר יֹום לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם כָּל־מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ וְחַגֹּתֶם   29:12

חַג לַיהוָה שִׁבְעַת יָמִים

Numb. 29:12   ‘And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month a holy convocation shall be for you; you shall not perform any work of servitude.  And you shall celebrate a festival to the Lord seven days.’

וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם עֹלָה אִשֵּׁה רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה פָּרִים בְּנֵי־בָקָר שְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר אֵילִם שְׁנָיִם כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־   29:13

שָׁנָה אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר תְּמִיםִם יִהְיוּ

Numb. 29:13   ‘And you shall bring a burnt offering, a fire offering, a sweet scent to the Lord, of thirteen bullock calves, two rams, fourteen he-lamb yearlings – they shall be without blemish –

וּמִנְחָתָם סֹלֶת בְּלוּלָה בַשָּׁמֶן שְׁלֹשָׁה עֶשְׂרֹנִים לַפָּר הָאֶחָד לִשְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר פָּרִים שְׁנֵי עֶשְׂרֹנִים   29:14

לָאַיִל הָאֶחָד לִשְׁנֵי הָאֵילִם

Numb. 29:14   and their meal offering of fine flour mingled with oil, three tenths for each bullock for the thirteen bullocks, two tenths for each ram for the two rams,

וְעִשָּׂרֹון עִשָּׂרֹון לַכֶּבֶשׂ הָאֶחָד לְאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר כְּבָשִׂים   29:15

Numb. 29:15   and a tenth, a tenth for each lamb, for the fourteen lambs,

וּשְׂעִיר־עִזִּים אֶחָד חַטָּאת מִלְּבַד עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד מִנְחָתָהּ וְנִסְכָּהּ   29:16

Numb. 29:16   and a sin offering of one male goat, besides the daily burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering,

וּבַיֹּום הַשֵּׁנִי פָּרִים בְּנֵי־בָקָר שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֵילִם שְׁנָיִם כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר תְּמִימִם   29:17

Numb. 29:17   and on the second day, twelve bullock calves, two rams, fourteen he-lamb yearlings without blemish,

וּמִנְחָתָם וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם לַפָּרִים לָאֵילִם וְלַכְּבָשִׂים בְּמִסְפָּרָם כַּמִּשְׁפָּט   29:18

Numb. 29:18   and their meal offerings and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs by their number according to ordinance,

וּשְׂעִיר־עִזִּים אֶחָד חַטָּאת מִלְּבַד עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד וּמִנְחָתָהּ וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם   29:19

Numb. 29:19   and a sin offering of one male goat, besides the burnt offering of the day and its meal offering and their drink offerings,

וּבַיֹּום הַשְּׁלִישִׁי פָּרִים עַשְׁתֵּי־עָשָׂר אֵילִם שְׁנָיִם כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר תְּמִימִם   29:20

Numb. 29:20   and on the third day, eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lamb yearlings, without blemish,

וּמִנְחָתָם וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם לַפָּרִים לָאֵילִם וְלַכְּבָשִׂים בְּמִסְפָּרָם כַּמִּשְׁפָּט   29:21

Numb. 29:21   and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs by their number according to ordinance,

וּשְׂעִיר חַטָּאת אֶחָד מִלְּבַד עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד וּמִנְחָתָהּ וְנִסְכָּהּ   29:22

Numb. 29:22   and a sin offering of one male goat, besides the burnt offering of the day and its meal offering and its drink offering,

וּבַיֹּום הָרְבִיעִי פָּרִים עֲשָׂרָה אֵילִם שְׁנָיִם כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר תְּמִימִם   29:23

Numb. 29:23   and on the fourth day, ten bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lamb yearlings, without blemish,

מִנְחָתָם וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם לַפָּרִים לָאֵילִם וְלַכְּבָשִׂים בְּמִסְפָּרָם כַּמִּשְׁפָּט   29:24

Numb. 29:24   their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs by their number according to ordinance,

וּשְׂעִיר־עִזִּים אֶחָד חַטָּאת מִלְּבַד עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד מִנְחָתָהּ וְנִסְכָּהּ   29:25

Numb. 29:25   and a sin offering of one male goat, besides the daily burnt offering, its meal offering and its drink offering,

וּבַיֹּום הַחֲמִישִׁי פָּרִים תִּשְׁעָה אֵילִם שְׁנָיִם כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר תְּמִימִם   29:26

Numb. 29:26   and on the fifth day, nine bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lamb yearlings, without blemish,

וּמִנְחָתָם וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם לַפָּרִים לָאֵילִם וְלַכְּבָשִׂים בְּמִסְפָּרָם כַּמִּשְׁפָּט   29:27

Numb. 29:27   and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs by their number according to ordinance,

וּשְׂעִיר חַטָּאת אֶחָד מִלְּבַד עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד וּמִנְחָתָהּ וְנִסְכָּהּ   29:28

Numb. 29:28   and a sin offering of one male goat, besides the daily burnt offering and its meal offering and its drink offering,

וּבַיֹּום הַשִּׁשִּׁי פָּרִים שְׁמֹנָה אֵילִם שְׁנָיִם כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר תְּמִימִם   29:29

Numb. 29:29   and on the sixth day, eight bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs, without blemish,

וּמִנְחָתָם וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם לַפָּרִים לָאֵילִם וְלַכְּבָשִׂים בְּמִסְפָּרָם כַּמִּשְׁפָּט   29:30

Numb. 29:30   and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs by their number according to ordinance,

וּשְׂעִיר חַטָּאת אֶחָד מִלְּבַד עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד מִנְחָתָהּ וּנְסָכֶיהָ   29:31

Numb. 29:31   and a sin offering of one male goat, besides the daily burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offerings,

וּבַיֹּום הַשְּׁבִיעִי פָּרִים שִׁבְעָה אֵילִם שְׁנָיִם כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר תְּמִימִם   29:32

Numb. 29:32   and on the seventh day, seven bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lamb yearlings, without blemish,

וּמִנְחָתָם וְנִסְכֵּהֶם לַפָּרִים לָאֵילִם וְלַכְּבָשִׂים בְּמִסְפָּרָם כְּמִשְׁפָּטָם   29:33

Numb. 29:33   and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs by their number according to their ordinance,

וּשְׂעִיר חַטָּאת אֶחָד מִלְּבַד עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד מִנְחָתָהּ וְנִסְכָּהּ   29:34

Numb. 29:34   and a sin offering of one male goat, besides the daily burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.’

Verses 29:13 to 29:34 describe the seven days of additional offerings during the feast of tabernacles:  70 bullocks, 14 rams, and 98 lambs, and their meal and drink offerings.  The sages say that the 70 bullocks represent the 70 nations of the world.  This is certainly a possibility.  The fact that the bullocks weren’t to be offered ten to a day, which would also result in 70 sacrifices, leads me to believe that the sequence of 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, and 7, is meaningful.  The number 70 has other significance besides the hypothetical number of nations.  Terach, Abram’s father, was 70 years old when Abram was born (Gene. 11:26).  Seventy souls of the house of Jacob came into Egypt (Gene. 46:27).  The Egyptians mourned the death of Jacob for 70 days (Gene. 50:3).  Seventy elders from the children of Israel went up with Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu to perceive the God of Israel (Exod. 24:9).   Seventy elders of the children of Israel prophesied when some of the spirit of Moses was put on them (Numb. 11:25).

Let’s just free associate:  Suppose that the number of bullocks was reduced so that on the seventh day only one bullock would be sacrificed.  The number sequence would then be 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 for the seven days.  These numbers add up to 28.  Now 70 bullocks and 28 more equals 98, which is equal to the number of lambs sacrificed.  And 28 is twice 14, the number of rams.  I think we have here a play on number combinations, and perhaps nothing more.  The mysterious sequence may be God’s way of playfully playing with the minds of those of us silly enough to try to make something of all this.

בַּיֹּום הַשְּׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת תִּהְיֶה לָכֶם כָּל־מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ   29:35

Numb. 29:35   ‘On the eighth day a solemn assembly shall be for you; you shall not perform any work of servitude,

וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם עֹלָה אִשֵּׁה רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ לַיהוָה פַּר אֶחָד אַיִל אֶחָד כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה שִׁבְעָה תְּמִיםִם   29:36

Numb. 29:36   and you shall present a burnt offering, a fire offering of a sweet scent to the Lord, of one bullock, one ram, seven he-lamb yearlings, without blemish,

מִנְחָתָם וְנִסְכֵּיהֶם לַפָּר לָאַיִל וְלַכְּבָשִׂים בְּמִסְפָּרָם כַּמִּשְׁפָּט   29:37

Numb. 29:37   their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs by their number according to ordinance,

וּשְׂעִיר חַטָּאת אֶחָד מִלְּבַד עֹלַת הַתָּמִיד וּמִנְחָתָהּ וְנִסְכָּהּ   29:38

Numb. 29:38   and a sin offering of one male goat, besides the daily burnt offering and its meal offering and its drink offering.’

אֵלֶּה תַּעֲשׂוּ לַיהוָה בְּמֹועֲדֵיכֶם לְבַד מִנִּדְרֵיכֶם וְנִדְבֹתֵיכֶם לְעֹלֹתֵיכֶם וּלְמִנְחֹתֵיכֶם וּלְנִסְכֵּיכֶם   29:39

וּלְשַׁלְמֵיכֶם

Numb. 29:39   ‘You shall offer these to the Lord in your appointed seasons, apart from your vows and your freewill offerings of your burnt offerings and of your meal offerings and of your drink offerings and of your peace offerings.’”

All of the second-person pronouns and verbs in this chapter are plural.

Torah Commandments in this Chapter

383. You shall bring the prescribed offerings for the first of Tishrei,

        Yom Kippur, Sukkoth, and Sh’mini Atzeret.    V. 29:2 - 29:38

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