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Bible Commentary
Numbers

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Numbers 29

Num 29:1

Num 29; 30: The second cycle of feasts took place in the seventh or sacred month -- seven being the sacred number, and that of the covenant. It began with new moon's day when, besides the daily, and the ordinary new moon's offerings, special festive sacrifices were brought (Num 29:1-6). Then on the 10th of that month was the "Day of Atonement," while on the 15th the feast of tabernacles began, lasting seven days. All these feasts had their appropriate sacrifices.

The laws as to sacrifices appropriately close with directions about "vows" (Num 30). In all the ordinances connected with the sacred seasons, there is evident the symbolic significance of the number seven -- alike in the feasts themselves, in their number, their sacrifices, and in that of the days appointed for holy convocation. Indeed, the whole arrangement of time was ordered on the same principle, ascending from the Sabbath of days, to the Sabbath of weeks, of months, of years, and finally to the Sabbath of Sabbath years, which was the year of Jubilee. And thus all time pointed forward and upward to the greatest "Sabbath," or sacred rest, that remains as the hope of God's people (Heb 4:9).

Num 29:40

MOSES TOLD THE ISRAELITES ALL THAT THE LORD COMMANDED HIM: Even though Moses knows that he will not enter the land, he continues to prepare Israel for the time when they will be in the land. Such is the selflessness of the man Moses -- a pattern for us. What we do for God should not be based on self-interest. It should be based on pleasing God.

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