1-39

Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. 4: Harmony of the Law, Part II, tr. by John King, [1847-50], at sacred-texts.com

Numbers 29

Numbers 29:1-39

1. And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.

1. Mense autem septimo, primo die ejusdem, convocatio sancta erit vobis: nullum opus servile facietis, dies clangoris erit vobis.

2. And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish:

2. Et faeietis holocaustum in odorem quietis Jehovae, juvencum filium bovis unum, arietem unum, agnos anniculos septem immaculatos:

3. And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram,

3. Et minham eorum ex simila permixta oleo, tres decimas per singulos juvencos, duas decimas per singulos arietes:

4. And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

4. Et decimam unam per singulos agnos, per septem agnos.

5. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:

5. Et hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato, ad expiandum vos.

6. Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.

6. Praeter holocaustum calendarum, et minham ejus, et holocaustum juge, minham que ejus, et libamina eorum, secundum titus sues, in odorem quietis, oblatio ignita Jehovae.

7. And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:

7. Decimo autem die mensis septimi hujus, convocatio sancta erit vobis, affligetisque animus vestras: nullum opus facietis.

8. But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD for a sweet savour; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto you without blemish:

8. Et offeritis holocaustum Jehovae in odorem quietis, juvencum filium bovis unum, arietem unum, agnos anniculos septem: immaculati erunt vobis.

9. And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram,

9. Et minham eorum ex simila conspersa oleo, tres decimas in singulos juvencos, duas decimas in singulos arietes:

10. A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

10. Singulas decimas per agnos singulos, per septem agnos.

11. One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings.

11. Hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato: praeter oblationem pro peccato expiationum: et holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, libaminaque eorum.

12. And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:

12. Porre decimaquinta die mensis septimi, convocatio sancta erit vobis: nullum opus servile facietis, et celebrabitis solennitatem Jehovae septem diebus.

13. And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish:

13. Et holocaustum, et oblationem ignitam in odorem quietis Jehovae, juvencos filios bovis tredecim, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim: immaculati erunt.

14. And their meat-offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams,

14. Minham quoque eorum ex simila conspersa oleo, tres decimas in juvencos singulos tredecim juvencis: duas decimas in arietes singulos duobus arietibus.

15. And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs:

15. Et singulas declinus per agnos singulos, quatuordecim agnos.

16. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

16. Et hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato: prater holocaustum juge, minham ejus et libamen ejus.

17. And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:

17. Die autem secundo juvencos filios bovis duodecim, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

18. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

18. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum in juvencos, in arietes, in agnos secundum numerum eorum, juxta morem.

19. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings.

19. Et hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato: praeter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamina eorum.

20. And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish;

20. Die vero tertio juveneos undecim, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

21. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

21. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum, juxta morere.

22. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

22. Et hircum in sacrificium pro petcato unum, praeter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamen ejus.

23. And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

23. Die autem quarto juvencos decem, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

24. Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

24. Minham eorum et libamina eorum in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum, juxta morere.

25. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

25. Et hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato, praeter holocaustum juge, minham ejus et libamen ejus.

26. And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:

26. Et die quinto juvencos novem, arietes duos, agnos annietrios quatuordecim immaculatos.

27. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

27. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum, in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum, juxta morere.

28. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

28. Et hircum in sacrificium pro peccato unum, procter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamen ejus.

29. And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

29. Die praterea sexto jurenons otto, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

30. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

30. Et minham eormn, et libamina eorum in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum juxta morere.

31. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

31. Et hircum in sacrificium pro peccato unum: procter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamina ejus.

32. And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

32. Et die septimo juvencos septem, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

33. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

33. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum, in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum juxta morere.

34. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

34. Et hircum in sacrificium pro peccato unum, prfeter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamen ejus.

35. On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein:

35. Die octavo solennitas erit vobis: nullum opus servile facietis.

36. But ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish:

36. Et offeretis holocaustum, et oblationem ignitam odoris quietis jehovae, juvencum unum, arietem unum, agnos anniculos septem immaculatos:

37. Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

37. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum, in juvencum, in arietem, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum juxta morere.

38. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

38. Et hircum in sacrificium pro peccato unum: procter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamen ejus.

39. These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.

39. Ista facietis Jehovae in solemnitatibus vestris: prater vota vestra, et spontanea vestra in holocaustis vestris, et minhis vestris, et libaminibus vestris, et sacrificiis prosperitatum.

1 And in the seventh month. I have already observed that the festivals are not here (generally) treated of, but only the sacrifices, by which their solemnization was to be graced. In the beginning of the seventh month was the memorial, as it was called, of the blowing of trumpets. Because it was a minor festival, Moses only commands one bullock to be killed; but the number was increased on other grounds, for we have already seen that on the first of every month two bullocks were sacrificed. This day, therefore, had three larger victims, whilst the number of the others was doubled, so that there were two rams and fourteen lambs. Thus, then, God consecrated this day doubly to Himself, so that one celebration diminished nothing of the other; else He might have seemed to have abrogated what He had once commanded. The memorial of trumpets was not, then, an abolition of the new-moon, but they kept both ordinances at the same time.

7. And ye shall have on the tenth day. This was the day of Atonement. For although they never came into God’s presence without supplication for pardon, they then in a special manner confessed their sins, because a fast was appointed in token of their guilt. For thus it is written in Le 23:29,

"Whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people."

As to the sacrifices, one bullock only is required; the rest is as before, except that an exception is added, which was omitted in the former cases. For another propitiation is appointed besides the goat, to accord with the fact of their affliction. For the acknowledgment of guilt would have been a dreadful torment to their consciences without the hope of reconciliation. The reason of this sacrifice will be soon explained.

12. And on the fifteenth, day. Amongst their festivals this last was the chief  ²⁴⁰ in which they dwelt in tabernacles for seven days; for whereas in the Passover they commemorated the night in which they came forth free from the plagues of Egypt, by dwelling in tabernacles they embraced the whole forty years in which their fathers in the desert experienced the constant and consummate bounty of God. That solemn convention, too, availed for another present purpose, i.e., of thanksgiving to God for the ingathering of the harvest. Hence it was that they offered sacrifices every day and in greater number: on the first day, thirteen bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs; on the second, twelve bullocks; on the third, eleven; on the fourth, ten; on the fifth, nine; on the sixth, eight; finally, on the seventh, seven; and on the eighth, one. Nor is it carelessly that Moses expends so many words on the recital; first, that nothing might be done except at God’s command; secondly, lest it should be disagreeable or onerous to be at such great expense, which they would have gladly avoided. Wherefore, that they might cheerfully obey God’s command, he diligently inculcates what victims God would have daily offered to Him. But why the distribution was so unequal, I confess, is not clear to me, and it is better to confess my ignorance than by too subtle speculations to vanish into mere smoke.  ²⁴¹ This notion, indeed, is neither curious nor to be rejected, i.e., that, by daily diminishing the number, they came at last on the seventh day to the number seven, which is the symbol of perfection; for the eighth was superadded, merely as a conclusion. Finally, Moses subjoins that in the continual sacrifice, as well as these extraordinary ones, they should hold fast to what God prescribes, so that nothing should be altered according to man’s fancy. The sacrifices which depend on the Commandments of the Second Table, I have designedly postponed to their proper place.

Footnotes

240

“La plus authentique.” — Fr.

241

Scott’s conjecture is not without force: “The decrease of the number of the bullocks which were sacrificed on the several days of the feast, until on the last and great day only one was offered, is the most observable circumstance in this law. The reason is not evident, unless it be intimated that the Mosaic institution would gradually wax old, and at length vanish away when the promised Messiah came. (Heb 8:7-13.)” As a specimen of the ancient opinions, I subjoin the following, — “The Hebrews say that the offerings were made for other nations; and, therefore, seventy calves were offered altogether, according to the number of the seventy nations, divided into seventy languages. But fourteen calves were offered on the first day, and on the second day thirteen, thus decreasing one every day to the last inclusive; by which is designated that the dominion of the Gentiles was to be diminished and terminated under King Messiah, to whom all nations are to be subdued,” etc. — De Lyra, in loco.