A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Numbers · Chapter 29
CHAP. XXIX.
Verſ. 1. ANd in the ſeventh monethmonth, on the firſt day of the monethmonth, &c.]
This ſeventh monethmonth was called the monethmonth Ethanim, 1. Kings 8. 2. it was in the end of the year, Exod. 23. 16. and the revolution of the year, Exod. 34. 22. for ſo the word is in the originall, becauſe then the old year went out, and the new began, as touching Jubilees and other civil affairs, Lev. 25. 9, 10. But by reaſon of Iſraels coming out of Egypt in Abib or March, that was made the firſt of the moneths, Exod. 12. 2. And thus numbring the moneths (for after this order the eccleſiaſticall feaſts were reckoned) this which had been the firſt monethmonth is here▪ as uſually elſewhere, called the ſeventh monethmonth, and ſo became as it were the Sabbath monethmonth, and was accordingly honoured with as many feaſts as were celebrated in all the year beſides; whereof one was this here ſpoken of▪ which was called the feaſt of trumpets, and was in the firſt day of this monethmonth, being their Newyears day for civil affairs, and ſo a fit day to praiſe God for the bleſſings of the yea… paſt, and to crave his bleſſing on the following year. See what is noted concerning the ſolemnitie of this feaſt, Lev. 23. 24.
Verſ. 2. And ye ſhall offer a burnt-offering for a ſweet ſavour unto the Lord, one young bullock, &c.]
To wit, beſide the ſacrifices of the day, as it was a new Moon, chap. 28. 11. and beſides the daily ſacrifice, as is expreſſely noted, verſ. 6.
Verſ. 7. And ye ſhall have on the tenth day of this ſeventh monethmonth an holy convocation, &c.]
See Levit. 16. 29. and the notes thereon.
Verſ. 11. One kid of the goats for a ſinne-offering, beſide the ſinne-offering of …onement, &c.]
That is, beſide that goat-buck offered on the day of atonement, whoſe bloud was carried by the high prieſt within the vail into the moſt holy place. See Levit 16. 9,. 29▪ 30.
Verſ. 12. And on the fifteenth day of the ſeventh monethmonth ye ſhall have an holy convocation, &c.]
To wit, the ſeaſt of booths. See Levit. 23. 34, 35. and the notes thereon.
Verſ. 13. And ye ſhall offer a burnt-offering, a ſacrifice made by fire, of a ſweet ſavour unto the Lord, thirteen young bullocks, &c.]
There were moe ſacrifices offered at this then at any other feaſt, both becauſe it was celebrated in remembrance of the mercies of many years, even all thoſe …ourty years of their travel from Egypt to Canaan▪ as alſo becauſe at this time they had gathered in their corn and wine, and had ſeen the bleſſing of God on all their increaſe, and in all the work of their hands, Deut. 16. 13, 15. Thou ſhalt obſerve the feast of tabernacles ſeven dayes after thou haſt gathered in thy corn and thy wine: Seven dayes ſhalt thou keep a ſolemn feaſt unto the Lord thy God, in the place which the Lord ſhall chuſe; becauſe the Lord thy God ſhall bleſſe thee in all thy increaſe, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou ſhalt ſurely rejoyce.
Verſ. 17. And on the ſecond day ye ſhall offer twelve young bullocks, &c.]
In every one of the ſeven dayes of this feaſt one bullock is abated: for whereas they offered thirteen bullocks the firſt day, they offered but twelve on the ſecond day, and el…ve… on the third, &c, and herein happely was intended a repreſentation how the years of their pilgrimage, wherein God had appointed that they ſhould wander up and down in booths, did by degrees wear away and grow fewer and fewer; or elſe by this abating of the ſin…e-offerings (whereby atonement was made for them) the holy Ghoſt might teach their duty to grow in grace, that in the whole courſe of their pilgrimage through this world ſinne ſhould ſtill decay and wear away; or it might ſignifie a diminiſhing or wearing away of the legall ſacrifices and ceremonies.