Commentary on Numbers, Book · Chapter 28
CHAP. XXVIII.
Chapter XXVIII Verſe 1 Ver. 1. AND the LORD ſpake unto Moſes, ſaying.] Having numbred the People, and appointed his Succeſſor to bring them to their Inheritance (which he had ordered to be divided among them, proportionable to the number of each Tribe) nothing was more neceſſary than to perſwade them to be truly religious, whereby they might be preſerved in the enjoyment of it. Unto which Moſes is commanded to direct them, in this and in the following Chapters. Which may be thought to have been delivered alſo in the eighth Month of the laſt Year of their Travels in the Wilderneſs.
Ver. 2. Command the Children of Iſrael, and ſay unto Verſe 2 them.] Theſe Commands had been given before, but are here repeated, becauſe this was a new Generation, who either had not heard them, when they were firſt delivered Eight and thirty years ago; or at leaſt, had need to have their Memories refreſhed. Some things alſo are now more particularly explained, concerning the Sacrifices which were to be offered at certain times: and they are reduced into a certain order; ſome being daily, others weekly, others monthly, and ſome anniverſary. All which were of ſuch importance, that Moſes being ſhortly to leave them, thought good to repeat moſt of them once more, in the Book of Deuteronomy.
My Offering and my Bread.] The word and is not in the Hebrew; but the words are, my Offering, my Bread. Which Iſaac Abarbinel thus excellently explains; Concerning Offerings for Sin, and Treſpaſs-offerings, and the reſt, I ſhall not need to admoniſh you: but concerning my daily Sacrifices, which properly of themſelves are my own Oblation, my daily Bread, or my Food (which the Divine Preſence dwelling among them required, XXIX Exod. 42, 44, 45.) And ſo others by the word Bread underſtand Meat or Food in general, as we tranſlate it v. 24. though it may have a particular reſpect to the Meat-offering, which was made of Meal, and always accompanied the Burnt-Offerings. Which ſeem here to be peculiarly meant; though ſome think theſe words relate to all the Sacrifices, ſome part of which were God's Portion.
For my Sacrifices made by fire.] The whole Burnt-offerings are moſt properly called Iſche (Sacrifices made by fire) being all conſumed upon the Altar; where the heavenly Fire burnt continually, ready for that purpoſe.
For a ſweet ſavour unto me.] So the Burnt-offering is called I Lev. 9, 13, 17. See there. I ſhall only add the Paraphraſe of the Hieruſalem Targum, which is this, My offering of Bread which ye offer on the Altar, doth not the fire devour it? And yet it is acceptable to me from you, as an Odor in which I am well pleaſed.
Shall ye obſerve to offer unto me.] Be very careful to ſee duly performed: This being the Food (ſaith Abarbinel) which, to ſpeak after the manner of Men, was offered by God's Fire, upon his own Altar, for his Dinner and Supper.
In due ſeaſon.] For that reaſon this Sacrifice was to be conſtantly offered, ſaith the ſame Author, that the Divine Fire which came down from Heaven to conſume the Sacrifices, might not be diſappointed, and burn there in vain, without any thing to do.
From this place the Jews endeavour to make out their Cuſtom, of having Stationary men, as they call them, to attend the daily Sacrifice: taking Moatho [in its ſeaſon] as if it had been Omatho [in its ſtations] but chiefly relying upon the firſt words of this verſe, command the Children of Iſrael, who could not all be preſent at the daily Sacrifice, and therefore ſome particular Perſons were choſen to repreſent all the reſt. For they thought it very undecent to have a Sacrifice made for a Man, and he not ſtand by it; and therefore the firſt Prophets ordained Twenty four Courſes of Men choſen out of the Prieſts, Levites, and People, to ſtand in the Temple, when the daily Sacrifice was offered in the name of all Iſrael; and pray that God would accept it for them, as if they were all preſent. This account the Miſchna gives of them in Taanith, and other places: where they ſay theſe Men were held ſo neceſſary, that it was an uſual Speech among them, without Stations the World could not ſtand. For without Sacrifices, that is, the Worſhip of God, the World would be undone; and Sacrifices could not be maintained without Stations. See Voyſin de Jubilaeo, cap. 25. and our Learned Dr. Lightfoot in his Temple Service, chap. 7. ſect. 3.
Ver. 3. And thou ſhalt ſay unto them, this is the offering Verſe 3 made by fire, which ye ſhall offer unto the LORD.] That Offering which he peculiarly ſpeaks of, is the daily Sacrifice; which was appointed long ago, before the Tabernacle was ſet up, XXIX Exod. 38, 39. See my Notes there. And add this, that God's promiſe to meet them there, v. 42, 43. and afterward to dwell among them, v. 45. ſeems to depend upon this conſtant Service which he expected ſhould be paid to him: which if neglected, he withdrew himſelf from them.
Two Lambs of the firſt year, day by day continually.] This is expreſly required in XXIX Exod. 38. Only here it is added without ſpot, or perfect in its kind: which was required in all Sacrifices, particularly in the firſt Lamb which they offered, when they came out of Egypt, XII Exod 5. See there.
Ver. 4. The one Lamb ſhalt thou offer in the Morning, and the other Lamb ſhalt thou offer at Even.] The very words in XXIX Exod. 39.
Verſe 4 Ver. 5. A tenth part of an Ephah of Flour for a Verſe 5 Meat-offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten Oyl.] This alſo is there explained, XXIX Exod. 40.
Verſe 6 Ver. 6. It is a continual Burnt-offering.] To be continued throughout all your Generations every day, as it is expreſſed XXIX Exod. 42. For it was in the nature of a daily Prayer to God, that he would graciouſly continue his Mercy unto Iſrael, (as Abarbinel obſerves) and increaſe their Corn, Wine and Oyl, which they acknowledged hereby they received from him.
Which was ordained in Mount Sinai.] There Moſes received both this Law, and all the reſt (which are mentioned in the Book of Exodus) concerning the Service of God, and the place where it was to be performed, and his Miniſters, &c. And this ſufficiently ſhows that he ſpeaks here to thoſe who were ſo young at the firſt Inſtitution of theſe Laws, that they gave the leſs heed to them, or had forgotten them. And there are thoſe who think that for Eight and thirty years they had difuſed them; which they gather from XII Deut. 8. But I do not take it to be likely, that Sacrifices were wholly omitted during that ſpace; though perhaps not ſo regularly performed as when they came to Canaan. For to ſuppoſe that, is to ſuppoſe that the Fire from Heaven, either went out, or burnt continually to no purpoſe; and that the Divine Majeſty had no entertainment ſet upon his Table; and conſequently did not keep Houſe, and dwell among them all that time: In ſhort, that there was no Worſhip of God at the Tabernacle. All theſe Arguments may convince any Man, there were offered, at leaſt the daily Sacrifice, Morning and Even, and thoſe on the Sabbath.
For a ſweet ſavour, a Sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.] See XXIX Exod. 41.
Ver. 7. And the Drink-offering thereof ſhall be the fourth Verſe 7 part of a hin, for the one Lamb.] So it was ordained alſo in Mount Sinai, as appears from the ſame XXIX Exod. 40. And in this very Book there is a general Rule given to this new Generation, that this ſhould be the leaſt quantity of Wine, which ſhould be offered with a Burnt-offering, or Peace-offering. See XV Numb. 5. Which was a thing ſo conſtantly practiſed, that the Heathen never ſacrificed, but they poured Wine upon the Fleſh, as it flamed upon the Altar. For though Water was ſometimes poured upon the Sacrifices, yet Nonnus ſaith (Lib. IV. Dionyſiac.) it was when Men knew not the uſe of Wine; for after that was found out, they never ſacrificed without it. See Fort. Scacchus Myrother. 2. cap. 42.
In the holy place.] Upon the Altar of Burnt offerings, which ſtood in the holy place, near to the door of the Tabernacle, XXIX Exod. 42.
Shalt thou cauſe the ſtrong Wine to be poured out unto the LORD, for a Drink-offering.] The Hebrew word Schecar commonly ſignifies any ſort of ſtrong Drink, but here the nobleſt and moſt generous Wine; for it was not lawful to uſe any other Liquor in their Sacrifices: The Heathens had this Reverence to their Gods, that they alway offered to them the moſt excellent Wine they had. Which appears by thoſe words we meet withal, ſo often in Homer (both in his Iliads and Odyſſes) of Mens pouring out their Sacrifices, — foreign, black Wine; or of the deepeſt Colour, red as Blood; which was the richeſt of all other. And Herodian, ſpeaking of the vaſt profuſeneſs of Haliogabalus, who offered Hecatombs of Oxen every Morning, with great multitudes of Sheep, upon which he heaped all manner of Spices, adds this alſo, (Lib. V.) foreign, &c. pouring out many flaggons of the oldest and most excellent Wine on the Altars: So that Rivers of Wine and Blood ran mixed together.
Verſe 8 Ver. 8. And the other Lamb ſhalt thou offer at Even, &c.] All the foregoing verſes relate to the Morning Sacrifice; and this only briefly preſcribes, that the other Lamb ſhould be offered in the ſame manner at Even, with the very ſame Meat-offering and Drink-offering. And as no Sacrifice was to precede the Morning Burnt-offering, but it was to be offered firſt: ſo this at Even was to conclude all the Sacrifices of the Day, and none to be offered after it.
A Sacrifice made by fire, a ſweet ſavour unto the LORD.] As acceptable to him, as the Morning Sacrifice.
Verſe 9 Ver. 9. And on the Sabbath day, two Lambs of the first year without ſpot.] He doth not mean that, whereas every Morning and Evening they offered one Lamb, on the Sabbath day they ſhould offer two: but that there ſhould be two Lambs offered on the Sabbath, over and above the daily Offering, as appears from verſe 10. Whether one of them was to be offered in the Morning, and the other added at the Evening Sacrifice, it is not ſaid; but it is moſt probable the Sacrifices on the Sabbath were ſo ordered. For the Jews ſay, that at the time of this additional Sacrifice in the Morning of the Sabbath, they ſang at the Temple the Song of Moſes, Deut. XXXII. dividing it into ſix parts, and ſinging one part every Sabbath; ſo that in ſix Weeks they had finiſhed it, and then began again. And at the Evening Sacrifice they ſang that Song of his Exod. XV. at which times the Prieſt ſounded the Trumpets three times more than they, did at the ordinary Songs.
And two tenth deals of flour for a Meat-offering mingled with Oyl, and the Drink-offering thereof.] As the Burnt-offerings were double on this day, ſo a double quantity of Flour is ordered for the Meat-offering that attended the Burnt-offering, (for only a tenth part of an Ephah, v. 5. was offered on other days) and conſequently there was to be as much more Oyl and Wine than daily. And here it may be ſit to note, that as ſoon as the Drink-offering was poured out, then the Song before-mentioned began, with the Trumpets and other Inſtruments of Muſick; but not till then: For the Burnt-offering was not perfect till the Drink-offering, which was to accompany it, was offered; whereby it was compleated. See Dr. Light-foot in his Temple Service, cap. 7. ſect. 2.
Ver. 10. This is the Burnt-offering of every Sabbath, Verſe 10 beſides the continual Burnt-offering and his Drink-offering.] The daily Sacrifice was not to be omitted on the Sabbath, but this was to be added to it; and thence, by the Jews called Muſaph. Of which ſort there were ſeven more; which were to be added to the Sacrifice of the day; viz. that in the New Moon, v. 11. at the Paſſover, v. 19. and the Feaſt of Pentecoſt, v. 26. in the beginning of the Year, XXIX. 1. on the Day of Expiation, v. 7. on the Feaſt of Tabernacles there were peculiar Sacrifices for ſeven days together, XXIII Lev. 35. and on the laſt day of the Feaſt another, XXIX Numb. 35, 36, 37. All theſe were called Muſaphim, or additional Sacrifices to the daily Sacrifice.
Verſe 11 Ver. 11. And in the beginnings of your Months ye ſhall offer a Burnt-offering unto the LORD.] This ſolemn Sacrifice ſeems to have been ordained by God, to prevent the Idolatry which was uſual among the Gentiles; who worſhipped the New Moon with great Rejoycings when it firſt appeared. Otherwiſe, the firſt day of every Month was no Feſtival; but only a day on which extraordinary Sacrifices were offered with blowing of Trumpets, as ſeems to be directed X. 10. See there: which was uſual at all ſolemn Sacrifices, (as I noted before) otherways, the Feaſt of blowing with Trumpets, was only on the New Moon of the ſeventh Month, and no other. And therefore it is obſervable, that there is no mention made of the firſt day of the Month, among the Feſtivals appointed in XXIII Lev. And conſequently Servile work was lawful on this day; and nothing more required but only the following Sacrifices. The Jews at this day ſay, this Solemnity was appointed rather for the Women than the Men, (for which they give a fabulous reaſon) who are bound to abſtain from all work; but the Men only from the moſt laborious, ſuch as Plowing the Ground, &c. See Buxtorf's Synag. Judaica, cap. 22.
Two young Bullocks and one Ram, ſeven Lambs of the first year without ſpot.] All theſe were Burnt-offerings which were offered, beſides the daily Sacrifice; and beſides the two Lambs, if the firſt day of the Month fell out to be a Sabbath. In which caſe, and all others, where ſeveral Solemnities met together on the ſame day, the daily Sacrifice was offered firſt, and then the reſt of the Sacrifices peculiar for that day were to be performed, every one in their order. As for Example, If the Sabbath, and new Moon, and the Feaſt of Trumpets ſell out on the ſame day, they began with the daily Morning Sacrifice; after which followed the Sacrifices proper to the Sabbath; and after that the Sacrifice appointed on the New Moon; and then, thoſe that belonged to the Feaſt of Trumpets; and all was concluded with the Evening Sacrifice, as Abarbinel obſerves in his Preface to the Book of Leviticus.
Ver. 12. And three tenth deals of flour.] That is, Verſe 12 three tenth parts of an Ephah, v. 5.
For a Meat-offering mingled with Oyl, for one Bullock.] i. e. For each Bullock there was to be this proportion of Flour: which is exactly according to the general Rule before given, XV. 9.
And two tenth deals of flour mingled with Oyl, for one Ram.] This is the proportion there preſcribed for a Ram, as the other for a Bullock, XV. 6.
Ver. 13. And a ſeveral tenth deal of fine flour mingled Verſe 13 with Oyl for a Meat offering, unto one Lamb.] Unto each of the ſeven Lambs, before-mentioned (v. 11.) a Meat-offering was to be joyned in leſs proportion than the other; according to the Rule there given, XV. 4.
For a Burnt-offering of a ſweet ſavour, &c.] See v. 6.
Ver. 14. And their Drink-offering ſhall be half an hin Verſe 14 of Wine unto a Bullock.] See XV. 10.
And the third part of an hin for a Ram.] See there v. 7.
And a fourth part of an hin for a Lamb.] See there v. 5. They that allegorize theſe things, think the New Moon ſignifies the Reſurrection to a new Life in the other World, where every one ſhall receive a Reward according to his meaſure. Thus Procopius Gazaeus: in whom they that think ſuch Expoſitions uſeful, may find entertainment.
This is the Burnt-offering of every Month throughout the Months of the year.] There are more Sacrifices appointed on the New Moons, than on the Sabbath it ſelf; becauſe they returned ſeldomer. And the Gentiles multiplying Sacrifices on ſuch occaſions, if the Jews had not been thus imployed in the Worſhip of God, they might have been tempted to pay their Services to Idols.
Verſe 15 Ver. 15. And one Kid of the Goats for a Sin-offering.] This Sacrifice of a Goat for a Sin-offering, ſaith the ſame Procopius, is coupled with the reſt, being a ſhadow of the Paſſion of Chriſt, for whoſe ſake all our Sacrifices are acceptable unto God the Father.
Ʋnto the LORD.] It is well obſerved by Grotius, that theſe words unto the LORD were added, to put them in mind at this time of the right Object of Worſhip; when they were in danger to offer Sacrifice to the Moon, after the manner of the Heathen. This is the more to be regarded, becauſe a Goat being appointed to be offered at two other Solemnities, and to be offered for a Sin-offering, (v. 22, 30.) it is not ſaid, unto the LORD, (though certainly ſo intended) becauſe there was no danger at thoſe times to direct their Sacrifices to a wrong Object, as there was upon the New Moons; when the Heathen offered a Goat unto the Moon, it being a Creature whoſe Horns are like to thoſe of a New Moon. R. Bechai long ago obſerved this: A Goat, ſaith he, was offered to extirpate the Religion of thoſe who worſhipped the Moon; which makes the Scripture ſay expreſly, unto the LORD. And Maimonides more largely in his More Nevochim, P. III. cap. 46. where, after he had taken notice of the difference between Sin-offerings and Burnt-offerings, the latter of which being wholly burnt, might be properly ſaid to be unto the LORD, whereas Sin-offerings, were commonly eaten by the Prieſts; he adds, That this Sin-offering is peculiarly ſaid to be unto the LORD, leaſt any one ſhould think this Goat to be a Sacrifice to the Moon, after the manner of the Egyptians: Which was not neceſſary to be ſaid of the Goats offered at other Solemn Times, becauſe they were not in the beginning of the Month, nor diſtinguiſhed from other days by any natural ſign, but only by the appointment of the Law: which uſes theſe words concerning this Goat peculiarly, to pluck out of Mens thoughts thoſe inveterate and pernicious Opinions of the Gentiles; who had long ſacrificed to the Moon at this time, as they did to the Sun at his riſing, and when he entred into the ſeveral Signs.
Beſides the continual Burnt-offering, and his Drink-offering.] This is ſo often particularly mentioned, leſt any ſhould imagine it might be ſpared, when there were ſuch liberal Offerings of ſeveral kinds.
Ver. 16. And on the fourteenth day of the firſt Month Verſe 16 is the Paſſover of the LORD.] See XII Exod. 6, 18. XXIII Lev. 5. where it is called the LORD's Paſſover. See XII Exod. 27.
Ver. 17. In the fifteenth day of this Month is the Feast.] The fourteenth day at Even the Feaſt of the Paſſover was kept, as appears from XII Exod. 14. Verſe 17 But on the fifteenth day began another Feaſt, called the Feast of unleavened Bread. See XXIII Lev. 6.
Seven days ſhall unleavened Bread be eaten.] See XII Exod. 15. XIII. 6, 7. XXIII Lev. 6.
Verſe 18 Ver. 18. On the first day ſhall be an holy Convocation, ye ſhall do no manner of ſervile work therein.] See XII Exod. 16. XXIII Lev. 7.
Verſe 19 Ver. 19. But ye ſhall offer a Sacrifice made by fire, for a Burnt-offering unto the LORD.] The Solemnity was ordained before, and Offerings alſo in general preſcribed to be made ſeven days, (See XXIII Lev. 8.) but the particular Sacrifices not ſet down tell now.
Two young Bullocks, one Ram, and ſeven Lambs of the first year, they ſhall be unto you without ſpot.] The ſame Sacrifices which were appointed to be offered upon every firſt day of the Month, v. 11.
Verſe 20 Ver. 20. And their Meat-offering ſhall be of flour mingled with Oyl, three tenth deals ſhall ye offer for a Bullock, and two tenth deals for a Ram.] The very ſame which were appointed on the firſt day of every Month, v. 12.
Verſe 21 Ver. 21. A ſeveral tenth deal ſhalt thou offer for every Lamb, throughout the ſeven Lambs.] Juſt as it was in the forementioned Sacrifice, v. 13. And though the Drink-offerings be not mentioned, they muſt be underſtood to be the ſame; becauſe they always accompanied the Meat-offerings of Burnt-Sacrifices, which were not compleat without them.
Verſe 22 Ver. 22. And one Goat for a Sin-offering, to make atonement for you.] As it was in the New Moon, v. 15. But Meat and Drink-offerings did not accompany Offerings for Sin, ſave only in the caſe of a Leper: who was to bring three Offerings, a Sin-offering, a Treſpaſs-offering, and a Burnt-offering for his cleanſing; with three tenth parts of an Ephah of Flour, XIV Lev. 10, &c.
Ver. 23. Ye ſhall offer theſe beſide the Burnt-offering Verſe 23 of the Morning, which is the continual Burnt-offering.] There are two things that are here to be remarked; that theſe Offerings (as I noted before) ſhould not put by the continual Burnt-Sacrifice, but be added to it: and that all theſe were offered in the Morning, after the daily Morning Sacrifice; and were not part of the Evening Sacrifice, which concluded all.
Ver. 24. After this manner ye ſhall offer daily, throughout Verſe 24 the ſeven days.] Upon every one of the days of unleavened Bread, v. 17. which though it was a great Expence, yet was but a fitting Acknowledgment of God's wonderful goodneſs to them, in bringing them out of the Land of Egypt, with all their Flocks and their Herds; which was the foundation of all their happineſs afterwards, by making them a free People.
The Meat of my Sacrifice made by fire.] Here is the very ſame word with that v. 2. where he calls this Sacrifice his lechem, which we there tranſlate his bread, but here very properly, his meat or food. Which was ſet upon his Table (the Altar) every day; and by his fire from Heaven conſumed; which, according to the language of Men, was called his eating of it: as the Heathen Gods alſo are ſaid to eat the Fat of their Sacrifices, XXXII Deut. 38.
Of a ſweet ſavour unto the LORD.] Very acceptable to him, as hath been often obſerved.
It ſhall be offered beſide the continual Burnt-offering, and his Drink-offering.] There is the greateſt care taken (by the frequent repetition of this) that they ſhould not think to ſave their daily Sacrifice by theſe others; which were to be added to it, and not to ſupply the place of it. See v. 15.
Verſe 25 Ver. 25. And on the ſeventh day ye ſhall have an holy Convocation, ye ſhall do no ſervile work therein.] This laſt day of the Feaſt was equal to the firſt, XXIII Lev. 7, 8. and is called a Feaſt unto the LORD, XIII Exod. 6.
Verſe 26 Ver. 26. Alſo the day of the First-fruits.] Called the Feaſt of Harveſt, the Firſt-fruits of their Labours, XXIII Exod. 16. and the Feaſt of Weeks, when they brought the Firſt-fruits of Wheat-harveſt, XXXIV Exod. 22. XVI Deut. 10. The Jews in their Writings commonly call this Feaſt by the name of Atzereth, and ſo do the Chaldee Paraphraſe upon this place: though Abarbinel obſerves that this alone, of all the three great Feaſts, is never called ſo in the holy Scripture. It is hard therefore to tell, why the Jews call it ſo in a ſingular manner; but our learned Dr. Lightfoot hath made ſeveral probable Conjectures about it: one of which (and moſt pertinent to this place) is, becauſe there was a reſtraint, as the word ſignifies, upon the People, from bringing their Firſt-fruits till this Feaſt. If any did, they received them not from them, but laid them by till this day came. See Temple Service, chap. 14. ſect. 4.
When ye bring a new Meat-offering unto the LORD.] Mentioned XXIII Lev. 16. Which were two Loaves made of their firſt Corn, v. 17. where they are called the Firſt-fruits unto the LORD.
After your Weeks be out.] That is, the ſeven Weeks which they were to number from the morrow after the Sabbath, XXIII Lev. 15. i. e. after the firſt day of unleavened Bread. When they offered another ſort of Firſt-fruits, (which muſt be carefully diſtinguiſhed from thoſe here mentioned) viz. of the Barley Harveſt, which began at the Paſſover; when they were to bring a Sheaf of their Firſt-fruits unto the Prieſt, XXIII Lev. 10. the preſenting of which Sheaf was an Introduction to Harveſt, and procured them liberty to begin to put the Sickle into the Corn; which now, after ſeven Weeks, they reaped, and carried in at this Feaſt, when they brought theſe new Firſt-fruits unto the LORD. All which is a Deſcription of that which in the New Teſtament is called the Feaſt of Pentecoſt; being fifty days, as we read there in Leviticus, after the other great Feaſt.
Ye ſhall have an holy Convocation, ye ſhall do no ſervile work.] See XXIII Lev. 21.
Ver. 27 But ye ſhall offer the Burnt-offering, for a Verſe 27 ſweet ſavour unto the LORD.] Over and above the Burnt-offering which was preſcribed to be offered with the two loaves before-mentioned, XXIII Lev. 18. unto which this was an additional Sacrifice, plainly diſtinct from it.
Two young Bullocks, one Ram, ſeven Lambs of the firſt year.] The very ſame that were ordered to be offered upon every New Moon, and every day of the Feaſt of unleavened Bread, v. 11, 19, &c. whereas that in Leviticus is one young Bullock, two Rams, and ſeven Lambs.
Ver. 28. And their Meat-offering of flour mingled Verſe 28 with Oyl, three tenth deals unto one Bullock, &c.] The very ſame that is preſcribed to accompany the Burnt-offering, on the New Moon, and in the Feaſt of Unleavened Bread, v. 12, 20.
Ver. 29. And a ſeveral tenth deal unto one Lamb, Verſe 29 throughout the ſeven Lambs.] So it is ordained before in the former Caſes, v. 13, 21.
Verſe 30 Ver. 30. And one Kid of the Goats to make an atonement for you.] Beſide the Kid preſcribed for the ſame purpoſe, when the two Loaves were offered, XXIII Lev. 19. which was accompanied with two Lambs for a Sacrifice of Peace-offerings. So that there were a great many Sacrifices offered at this famous Feſtival; though it did not laſt ſo long as that of the Paſſover.
Verſe 31 Ver. 31. Ye ſhall offer them beſide the continual Burnt-offering.] He ſtill takes care that this daily Sacrifice ſhould not be omitted, by reaſon of ſuch a number of other Sacrifices, which were to attend upon it, but not to put it by, v. 10, 15, 23.
They ſhall be unto you without blemiſh.] This might have been ſufficiently underſtood, from what was ſaid of the daily Offering, v. 3. and of all the other preſcrib'd in this Chapter, v. 11, 19. But leaſt any prophane Perſon might think there was no need to be ſo ſcrupulous about theſe Sacrifices, becauſe it is only ſaid, two young Bullocks, one Ram, and ſeven Lambs of the firſt year, v. 27. theſe words are alſo here added, to take away all doubt, they ſhall be unto you without blemiſh, i. e. as perfect as all the reſt are ordered to be.
It is obſervable that there is not ſo much as one Peace-offering ordered in all this Chapter, which was a ſort of Sacrifice that was moſt for the benefit of thoſe that brought them to the Altar: But all Burnt-offerings (except a few Sin-offerings) which were wholly for the honour of God, and acknowledgment of his Sovereign Dominion over them, and of the Duty they owed him. And as the Sin-offerings were ſhadows of that great Sacrifice of God's own Son, which was one day to be offered for the Sins of Men, out of his infinite love to them; ſo the whole Burnt-offerings (which were always of the moſt perfect Creatures, the fineſt Flour, the choiceſt Fruits of the Earth, and the beſt Liquor) were ſhadows of that excellent degree of Piety, which the Son of God intended to bring into the World, which would move Men, out of love to God, to give themſelves wholly up to him, and devote all they had, even their own Lives, to his Service.