Numbers 28
Matthew Poole's Commentary
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Offerings to be observed at set times: the daily burnt-offering in the morning, together with its meat and drink offering; and at evening, Numbers 28:8. The sabbath offering, Numbers 28:9,10. The burnt-offering of the new moons, with, its meat, drink, and sin offering, Numbers 28:11-15. The passover, Numbers 28:16-18. Its sacrifices; and their continuance, Numbers 28:19-25. The pentecost and the sacrifices thereof, Numbers 28:26-31.

No text from Poole on this verse.

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.
God here repeats some of the former laws about sacrifices, not without great reason, partly, because they had been generally discontinued for thirty-eight years together; partly, because the generation to which the former laws had been given about these things was wholly dead, and it was fit the new generation should be instructed about them, as their parents were; partly, to renew the testimonies of God’s grace and mercy, notwithstanding their frequent forfeitures thereof by their horrid apostacies and rebellions; and principally, because they were now ready to enter into that land, in which they were obliged to put these things in practice, Deu 12:8, &c.

Made by fire. According to this translation the sense is, My offering, i.e. my offering or sacrifices, and my bread, i.e. either my shew-bread, or rather my meat-offering made of bread or meal, for my sacrifices made by fire, i.e. which is to accompany my burnt-offerings. Or thus, My offering, to wit, my bread, i. e. my meat-offering, which was made of bread or meal, which is oft expressed by this very name of corban or offering, as Leviticus 2:1 6:20; but because corban signifies not only a meatoffering, but other offerings also, as Leviticus 7:37,38, therefore he limits that general word by adding my bread with (so the Hebrew lamed is oft used, as Genesis 46:26 Ezra 1:5 2:63, &c.) my sacrifices made by fire, which may be understood either,

1. Generally for all the sacrifices, as that phrase is sometimes taken, as 1 Samuel 2:28, where it must needs be so meant, because the burntofferings properly so called were not given to the priest, but reserved to God himself, and the priest’s portion lay in the other sacrifices only; or,

2. Specially and properly for burnt-offerings; and so under them, as the most eminent kind, are contained all other sacrifices; as under the meat-offering here is contained the drink-offering. And according to this translation and explication these words contain a full and general rule, comprehending all the particulars following in this chapter, as in reason they ought to do, and which otherwise they do not.

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.
No text from Poole on this verse.

The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;
No text from Poole on this verse.

And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.
A meat-offering, which was an appendix or accessary to the principal sacrifice. See on Leviticus 2:1 Numbers 15:4.

It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.
Ordained, or, prescribed, instituted by God. Or, made, i.e. offered at that place, though since omitted for thirty-eight years.

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.
In the holy place, i.e. upon the altar of burnt-offerings, which was in the court of the priests nigh to the entrance into the sanctuary. See Exodus 29:42 2 Chronicles 29:7.

Strong wine, Heb. shecar, which though it signify in the general all kinds of strong drink, yet is here put for the most famous of that kind, to wit, for wine, which alone was used in offerings, as appears below, Numbers 28:14 Exodus 29:40.

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.
Thou shalt offer it, or, thou shalt offer with it. Or, with the meat offering of the morning, and with the drink offering thereof thou shalt offer it; the letter caph being put for beth, which are alike in Hebrew, and the words are said to be read with beth in some copies.

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:
Two lambs, besides that for the daily sacrifice, Numbers 28:10.

This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
No text from Poole on this verse.

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;
In the beginnings of your months, which though not reckoned among the solemn feasts, Le 23, yet were celebrated as such, by the sound of trumpets, Numbers 10:10, by extraordinary sacrifices, by abstinence from servile works, Amos 8:5, and by attendance upon the ministry of God’s word, 2 Kings 4:23. And God ordained it thus, partly that by giving God the first-fruits of every month they should acknowledge him as the Lord of all their time, and own his providence, by which all times and seasons, and all the fruits and blessings of them, and actions done in them, are ordered; and partly that it might be a type of the future renovation of the world by Christ.

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;
No text from Poole on this verse.

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.
No text from Poole on this verse.

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.
i.e. To be offered in the beginning of every month.

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.
One kid of the goats; a he-goat. See Numbers 15:24. Unto the Lord; not unto the moon, to which the Gentiles offered it.

And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.
Instituted by him, and to his honour and service. See on Leviticus 23:5.

And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.
The feast, to wit, of unleavened bread; of which see on Leviticus 23:6.

In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:
No text from Poole on this verse.

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:
No text from Poole on this verse.

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;
No text from Poole on this verse.

A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
No text from Poole on this verse.

And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.
No text from Poole on this verse.

Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.
And that in the evening too, as is evident from the nature of the thing, and from other scriptures; but the morning sacrifice alone is mentioned, partly because the celebration of the feast began with it, and principally because this alone was doubtful, whether this might not be omitted when so many other sacrifices were offered in that morning, whereas there was no question but the evening sacrifice should be offered, when there were none other besides it to be offered.

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.
i.e. The sacrifice made by fire, which is as it were my meat or food; for as God is said to smell the sacrifices, to wit, metaphorically, i.e. to accept of them; so is he said to eat them, i.e. to devour or consume them, and to be satisfied with them: such things spoken of God after the manner of men are to be understood so as to agree with the majesty of God.

And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.
No text from Poole on this verse.

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:
In the day of the first-fruits; in the feast of pentecost, Acts 2:1.

A new meat-offering; new fruits, two loaves made of your new corn, Leviticus 23:16.

Your weeks, i.e. the seven weeks which you are to number from the passover, Leviticus 23:15 Heb. in the weeks, in being put for after, as it is Isaiah 20:1 Luke 9:36 11:37.

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;
The burnt-offering, for the celebration of the feast, over and besides that other offering which was joined with the first-fruits, Leviticus 23:18: so here is a new additional sacrifice prescribed, which doth not destroy the former.

And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram,
No text from Poole on this verse.

A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs;
No text from Poole on this verse.

And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you.
No text from Poole on this verse.

Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.
No text from Poole on this verse.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission.

Bible Hub
Numbers 27
Top of Page
Top of Page