Numbers 28 Bible Commentary

John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes

(Read all of Numbers 28)

Verse 2

[2] Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.

Command the children of Israel — God here repeats some of the former laws about sacrifices, not without great reason, partly because they had been generally discontinued for thirty eight years together; partly because the generation to which the former laws had been given about these things was wholly dead, and it was fit the new generation should be instructed about them, as their parents were; partly to renew their testimonies of God's grace and mercy, notwithstanding their frequent forfeitures thereof by their rebellion: and principally because they were now ready to enter into that land, in which they were obliged to put these things in practice.

Verse 7

[7] And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.

In the holy place — Upon the altar of burnt offerings, which was in the court of the priests, nigh to the entrance into the sanctuary.

Verse 17

[17] And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.

The feast — Namely, of unleavened bread.

Verse 23

[23] Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.

In the morning — And that in the evening too, as is evident from other scriptures; but the morning-sacrifice alone is mentioned, because the celebration of the feast began with it, and principally because this alone was doubtful, whether this might not be omitted when so many other sacrifices were offered in that morning, whereas there was no question but the evening sacrifice should be offered, when there were none other to be offered.

Verse 26

[26] Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:

The day of the first fruits — In the feast of pentecost, Acts 2:1.

Your weeks — The seven weeks which you are to number from the passover.