In a continuation of the previous chapter, Israel was called upon to remember their relationship with God on certain days and festivals. This feast was conducted in the middle of the Jewish year.
On the Jewish calendar, it is Erev Rosh Hashanah, the eve of Rosh Hashanah. In the evening at sundown, the Jewish Holy Day of Rosh Hashanah begins, marking the start of a new year.
Rosh Hashanah is a two-day celebration which begins on the first day of the Jewish month known as Tishri. On this day, the people of Old Testament Israel turned aside from their work and gathered for a full day of sacrifice and worship, Numbers 29:1-6 / Leviticus 23:23-24.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The ordinance of the Feast of Trumpets was to be observed on the opening day of that month within which the great Day of the Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles fell, Leviticus 23:23-40. The special offering for the day anticipated that of the great Day of Atonement.’
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The Jews had a dual system of years; there was the religious year which began with the month Abib (Nisan), the first part of which was honoured by the Passover ceremonies and the feast of Unleavened Bread; and then there was the civil year which began on the first of Tisri, this being the occasion of the blowing of the trumpets, Numbers 10:10, and the celebration of Rosh Hoshannah, the Jewish New Year. Also, during this seventh month (religious), there came the great Day of Atonement and all of the rituals performed by the high priest on that day, Exodus 16. This was marked by the Jews as Yom Kippur, or, more accurately, ‘Yom ha-Kippurim’. All of these offerings mentioned here are additional to the bullocks, rams, and goats offered by the high priest on the Day of Atonement.’
On the first day of the seventh month Israel are to hold a sacred assembly, they can work but no regular work was to be done, Leviticus 23:25 / Leviticus 23:21 / Leviticus 23:7-8 / Leviticus 23:35-36, and it’s a day for them to sound the trumpets, Numbers 29:1.
The feast of trumpets was called this because the trumpets were blown throughout the land. Israel communicated with each other by blowing the trumpets, which were made from ram’s horns and were usually blown only by the priests.
As an aroma pleasing to the LORD, they are to offer a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect, Numbers 29:2.
With the bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, which is around eleven pounds, mixed with olive oil and with the ram, two-tenths, which is around seven pounds and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth, which is around three and a half pounds, Numbers 29:3-4 / Numbers 28:10. They are to include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for them, Numbers 29:5.
These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are food offerings presented to the LORD, a pleasing aroma, Numbers 29:6.
The blowing of the trumpets was a plea to God to remember Israel, Numbers 10:10. At His return, Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Sometimes in Jerusalem today, you can hear a shofar echo across the city. I think of the Lord’s promise of His return when He calls His people to Himself, 1 Corinthians 15:50-52 / 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
I consider the grace that the shofar’s call represents, urging worshippers to come before the Lord who forgives sins on the basis of sacrifice, Leviticus 16:29-30. We know that the ultimate sacrifice was God’s own Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
On the tenth day of this seventh month, Israel is to hold a sacred assembly, Numbers 28:7 / Leviticus 16:29 / Leviticus 23:24. Occupying a central place in the Book of Leviticus is the most holy day of the year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This is all about the Israelites, who were in a covenant relationship with God, being reconciled to God.
They must deny themselves, that is fast, Leviticus 23:27-32, and do no work, Numbers 29:7 / Exodus 20:10 / Leviticus 23:28, whether native-born or a foreigner residing among them, Exodus 12:38 / Exodus 12:48, because on this day atonement will be made for them, to cleanse them, then, before the LORD, they will be clean from all their sins, Leviticus 16:29-30.
Dummelow, in his commentary, says the following concerning denying themselves.
‘This means observe a fast, as indicated by Psalms 35:13 and Isaiah 58:3 / Isaiah 58:5. This was the only fast enjoined in the Mosaic law.’
The day of atonement was the day when an offering was made for the sins of the people. Notice this wasn’t a happy occasion; this was a day where people had to seriously think about their sin and its consequences.
They are to present as an aroma pleasing to the LORD a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect, Numbers 29:8 / Numbers 29:2.
With the bull, offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil, and with the ram, two-tenths and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth, Numbers 29:9-10.
They are to include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings, Numbers 29:11.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Note that this whole series of offerings follows a pattern in the number and kind of animals to be offered, in the amount of the meal-offerings in each case, and the inclusion of the drink-offerings. All of these are supplementary and additional to the regular sacrifices and ceremonies already prescribed in Exodus and Leviticus.’
Imagine being a new Jewish Christian living in Jerusalem around A.D.45, about fifteen years after the ministry and death of Jesus. The rich ceremonies of the Temple were continuing, and on the Day of Atonement, you and your family wonder if you should participate.
Jewish Christians in the early days of the church were wondering if they should return to their ancient sacrificial festivals. The book of Hebrews was penned to warn Jewish Christians not to lapse back into Judaism as if such ceremonies and festivals would provide more assured salvation.
In Hebrews 9-10, we find a full description of the Temple ceremonies and a remarkable critique. Jesus is our High Priest, Hebrews 9:11-13. Hebrews contrasts the ongoing, and futile, efforts of the High Priests, who annually bring the blood of bulls and goats into the inner sanctuary, with Jesus, who brought His own blood into a heavenly sanctuary, the true house of God.
Because the content of His sacrifice was superior and the venue of its offering superior, Jesus has ‘obtained eternal redemption’ for us, Hebrews 9:24-26. Why look to the Day of Atonement in Jerusalem when Jesus has accomplished an eternal work that makes all earthly works obsolete? Hebrews 8:6.
These Jewish Christians mentioned in Hebrews were also being persecuted for their failure to abide by religious custom, Hebrews 10:32-39. One day at Calvary outweighed the hundreds of complex sacrifices on Yom Kippur that had been going on for centuries.
Most of us don’t pay much attention to the agricultural cycles of nature, but Israel was deeply aware of its own food cycles. The festivals of Judaism followed the agricultural cycle, Deuteronomy 8:8.
The first fruits of the harvest were collected in baskets and taken to Jerusalem, Deuteronomy 26:1-11. At sundown, the Jewish festival of Sukkot will begin, Numbers 29:12 / Leviticus 23:34. They can work, but no regular work is to be done, Numbers 29:12.
The feast of tabernacles, sometimes called booths or tents, lasted for seven days, Numbers 29:12, and it was a happy occasion. They are to celebrate this as a festival for seven days each year, and this is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.
Celebrate it in the seventh month, Leviticus 23:41. For an entire week, the people were to live in booths, Leviticus 23:42-43; in other words, they were to camp out. The reason for camping out was to remind them of their wilderness wanderings.
According to the law, all Jews were to live in booths or huts during the celebration. These were outdoor shelters made from wild branches of olive, myrtle, palm, and other leaf trees, Leviticus 23:42-43 / Leviticus 23:40 / Nehemiah 8:15. A booth or tabernacle was a temporary dwelling.
This was a time to be thankful to God for bringing them into the land of Canaan, where they could live in their own houses. All of the offerings and feasts were in thanksgiving to God for His grace in bringing them into the Promised Land.
Since this was the formal end of the harvest year, it was a time of celebration. The people joined parades of pilgrims at the Temple, and as they marched holding the lulav, they sang the Hallel Psalms, Psalms 113-118.
Ceremonies around the Temple were extensive, and celebrations were full. Sacrifice was another way they praised God during this feast. But agriculture was not the only interest at Sukkoth or any of the other festivals. The Passover tells the story of Israel fleeing Egypt. Pentecost reminds them of their coming to Mount Sinai to receive the covenant.
Tabernacles reminded them of the forty years in the wilderness, when they lived in the desert, they worshipped God at His Tabernacle and built shelters for themselves as well, Leviticus 23:42-43.
Notice there were thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect, all of which were required on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Numbers 29:13.
With each of the thirteen bulls offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil and with each of the two rams, two-tenths and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth, Numbers 29:14-15. They are to include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering, Numbers 29:16.
Notice also, that on the second day there twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect, were required to be offered as sacrifices, Numbers 29:17.
With the bulls, rams, and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified, Numbers 29:18. They are to include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings, Numbers 29:19.
On the third day, they are to offer eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect, Numbers 29:20. With the bulls, rams, and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified, Numbers 29:21. They are to include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering, Numbers 29:22.
On the fourth day, they are to offer ten bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect, Numbers 29:23. With the bulls, rams, and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified, Numbers 29:24. They are to include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering, Numbers 29:25.
On the fifth day, they are to offer nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect, Numbers 29:26. With the bulls, rams, and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified, Numbers 29:27. They are to include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering, Numbers 29:28.
On the sixth day, they are to offer eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect, Numbers 29:29. With the bulls, rams, and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified, Numbers 29:30. They are to include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering, Numbers 29:31.
On the seventh day, they are to offer seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect, Numbers 29:32. With the bulls, rams, and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified, Numbers 29:33. They are to include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering, Numbers 29:34.
On the Jewish calendar, the seventh and final day of the Feast of Tabernacles, and this last day of Tabernacles is known as Hoshana Rabbah. The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, was officially scheduled for the fifteenth day of the Jewish month of Tishri, and it lasted for seven days, Leviticus 23:39-43. They can work, but can’t they do any regular work? Numbers 29:35.
The Feast of Tabernacles took place at the end of the dry season in Israel. In Israel, the rainy season begins in mid-October and ends in mid-April. In mid-April, the dry season begins, and sometimes there is absolutely no rain for six months straight! The Feast of Tabernacles began at the end of the dry season, and this festival lasted for seven days, plus the added eighth day of rest.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This among the Jews was esteemed the chief or high day of the feast, though fewer sacrifices were offered on it than on the others; the people seem to have finished the solemnity with a greater measure of spiritual devotion, and it was on this day of the feast that our blessed Lord called the Jews from the letter to the spirit of the law, proposing himself as the sole fountain whence they could derive the streams of salvation, John 7:37.’
They are to present as an aroma pleasing to the LORD a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect, Numbers 29:36 / Numbers 29:2.
With the bull, the ram, and the lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified, Numbers 29:37. They are to include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering, Numbers 29:38.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The offerings required at this feast were the largest of all. It was especially one of thankfulness to God for the gift of the fruits of the earth; and the quantity and the nature of the offerings, Numbers 29:7-11, were determined accordingly.’
The sacrifice of so many animals was proof that God really did take care of them whilst they were in the wilderness. As Christians, we too have much to be thankful for, and as God’s priests, 1 Peter 2:9-10, we too should continually offer our lives in sacrifice to the Lord out of thankfulness, Romans 12:1-2 / 2 Corinthians 4:15.
Hoshana Rabbah was the final and most important day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Every day during the feast, there was a water ceremony, Isaiah 12:3. The crowd would shake their lulavs and sing the Hallel Psalms, Psalms 113-118.
Rabbah means ‘great’ and Hoshana, Hosanna, means ‘God save us please!’ This was also a prayer for salvation from sin, for Hoshana Rabbah was understood by the Jews to be the absolutely final chance to have one’s sins for the year forgiven. Though Hoshana Rabbah was not mentioned by name in the Old Testament, it is mentioned in the New Testament, John 7:37-38.
On Hoshana Rabbah, in the midst of this water pouring, trumpet blasting, palm waving, psalm chanting, and joy on the part of people seeking forgiveness, and in the presence of all twenty-four divisions of the priesthood, that Jesus cried out in the temple courts and spoke, John 7:37-38 / Jeremiah 2:13.
The Feast of Tabernacles is a helpful reminder that thanksgiving is an important part of our daily lives. A thoughtful person knows that the capacities and opportunities we enjoy often should be credited less to ourselves and more to God. Tabernacles says, bring samples of what God has given you to the Temple and with them in hand, wrapped in your personal lulav, thank Him.
In addition to what they vow and their freewill offerings, offer these to the LORD at their appointed festivals: their burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings, Numbers 29:39 / Leviticus 7:11. Moses told the Israelites all that the LORD commanded him, Numbers 29:40.