Shabbat Shalom beloved of Yeshua Messiah
This week’s Torah Reading is the 120th portion of the 3-year Torah Portion reading cycle. Num 28.1-29.40 contains this week’s Torah Reading.
I’ve entitled this teaching: Worshiping God Throughout the Year — Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 120
Num 28:1-29:40
Lexham Context Commentary on the Old Testament points out that the regimen of worship that we find in this portion of Torah was directed specifically to the 2nd generation of Hebrews who were about to take possession of the Land of Promise. Much of what is covered in this reading was introduced and instituted when we were encamped round about Mount Sinai. (Exo 29) These sacrifices were offered by the Levitical Priests on behalf of the nation.
Every sacrifice is to be offered according to Yah’s established time, that is, on its appointed day.
The Daily Sacrificial Ritual (28:1-8)
Two yearling male lambs without defect each day as whole burnt offerings (aka appeasement offering): One n the morning, the other at evening, along with a grain offering (i.e. wheat) mixed with olive oil and a libation offering (undiluted wine; Earl D. Radmacher in Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary states that this libation offering was beer as opposed to wine) to be poured out in the holy place. (cf. Exo 29:38-46)
The general practice of praying in the morning when we rise for the day and at night when we go to bed in great part is based upon this God-commanded ritual.
The burnt offering is often described as being that of a pleasing or soothing aroma unto Yehovah. Some English translations of Torah call these offering appeasement offerings in great part because the rendered offerings are meant to sooth or appease Yah in His wrath towards us.
The priests rendered these daily offerings at the sanctuary daily on behalf of the nation.
They are symbolic of the intercession that our Master Yahoshua makes on our behalf in the heavenly Mishkan (i.e. the Heavenly Temple).
The Weekly Sabbath Offerings (28:9-10)
In addition to the daily offerings (referred to as a “musaf” offering because it is an offering made in addition to the regular daily burnt offerings), two perfect yearlings were to be rendered as whole burnt offerings besides its grain offering (wheat mixed with oil) and libation offering (i.e. 4-quarts of wine) each Sabbath. One commentator suggested that this addition to the daily offerings was symbolic of our doubling our devotions unto Yehovah on the Sabbath. The Rambam (prominent Jewish sage) referred to this offering as “peace on account of the Sabbath Bride.”
The set of liturgical prayers recited to welcome the Sabbath by our Hebrew brethren is referred to as the “Lekhah Dodi.” It is from Lekhah Dodi that the concept of the Sabbath Bride/Sabbath Queen is derived: ““Come, my beloved, to greet the bride; let us welcome the Sabbath presence” (Ronald L. Eisenberg, The JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions, 1st ed. (Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 2004), 146.). It is said that this line of the Lekhah Dodi was inspired by the Shab. 119a accounting of how the Talmudic sages received/welcomed the weekly Sabbath. This welcoming of the Sabbath by the sages is likened unto that of a bride or princess or queen. The author of this liturgy was Solomon haLevi Alkabetz, a kabbalist poet of the early 16th century. It is said that originally when this Sabbath Bride was embraced by certain Jewish leaders, a certain Isaac Luria, along with his disciples, would, in a line, proceed down to a set place in a select field and and receive the Sabbath Bride/Queen with songs and praises. Over time, this ritual transitioned from select fields in Jewish communities on over to their synagogues at the outset of their Eruv Shabbat Services. The liturgical poems recited to receive the Sabbath Bride/Queen are meant to “extol the love between God the Creator and human beings, who humbly yearn for divine mercy and favor” (JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions). The whole point behind the concept of the Sabbath Bride/Queen is that of a personification of the Sabbath. The Sabbath Bride/Queen depicts the Sabbath as “beautiful” and “lovely.” So, the Sabbath is considered feminine and through the recitation of these liturgical poems and prayers, she is received as though she is a lovely/beautiful queen. The queen appellate denotes the Sabbath’s graciousness and the princess appellate denotes the Sabbath’s charm (The Messianic Bible Study Collection, V 176, p 9).
Yah required no sin offering on Shabbat.
It is believed that both lambs were to be offered in the morning as opposed to the evening so as to not have the evening offering/sacrifice run the risk of being rendered on the next day. One source I consulted stated that the Sabbath offerings were made between the two daily offerings (Rashi). Ibn Ezra insisted that this Sabbath offering had to be placed on top/atop the regular, daily offering.
Jewish tradition designates the first lamb as representing the world at creation and the second lamb as representing our Exodus from Mitsrayim to coincide with the commandments to “remember” and “observe” that Father imparted unto us regarding our keeping of Shabbat.
Our Monthly Sacrifice Renderings (28:11-15)
On the Rosh Chodesh (first day or new moon) of every month of the calendar year, our priests were to render unto Yehovah:
- 2 Bulls (whole burnt offerings)
- 1 Ram (whole burnt offerings)
- 7 yearling male lambs without blemish (whole burnt offerings)
- Fine Wheat Flour with beaten olive oil to be rendered with one of each of the animal sacrifices.
- A libation offering of wine with one of each of the animal sacrifices.
- 1 male kid as a sin offering.
This monthly offering was to be rendered unto Yah besides the daily offerings.
As Messianic, Torah-observant believers, we are called to honor the Rosh Chodesh. Besides the stipulated sacrifices, the priests were to sound shofars on every Rosh Chodesh (Num 10.10).
Anciently, we conducted Rosh Chodesh observances throughout our time in the Land, as evidenced by Tanach passages such as 1 Samuel 20:5, 18; 2 Kings 4:23; Isaiah 1:13-14; and Amos 8:5. With the Hillel Calendar in the 4th c. AD, which is a calculated reckoning of time, emphasis on Rosh Chodesh observances by Yah’s people diminished. This diminished, if not complete ignoring, of Rosh Chodesh by believers today, not only disconnects us from our sacred, Torah-based heritage but also causes us to lose a Yah-ordained opportunity to worship Yehovah. Yes, because Yehovah commanded we were to render unto Him such substantive sacrifices and offerings as delineated above should tell us we should treat each Rosh Chodesh as a set-apart day of worship unto our God. So why aren’t we doing it?
Hilary and I greet each Rosh Chodesh with the blowing of our shofars, prayers, and songs of praise unto Yehovah for allowing us to see another month. We love observing Rosh Chodesh each month of Yah’s biblical calendar year. (If you are new to our ministry and this website and are interested in knowing about the biblical observation calendar, please check out my various teachings on the subject.)
The Moedim of Yehovah and their Assigned Offerings
Our reading transitions rapidly into reiterated instructions about the set-apart moedim or feasts of Yehovah, along with their required offerings. This is a reiteration of the instructions related to our keeping of the mandated feasts of Yah that is given in Leviticus 23.
1. (28:16) Passover (aka Pesach).
Passover falls on the 14th day of the 1st month of Yah’s biblical calendar year. Yehovah did not mention any sacrifices (other than the daily renderings) that we would be required to render unto him on Pesach. It is on Pesach, however, that we eat the Passover meal (aka the Passover Seder) and remember the examples our Master Yeshua left us in observance of this special day. (If you are new to our ministry or to our website and are interested in learning more about the keeping of Passover by Netsarim (aka Nazarene Israelites or Messianic Believers), please check out my various teachings on the Spring Feasts of Yehovah.)
2. (28:17-25) Unleavened Bread.
This moedim spans seven consecutive days, from the 15th to the 22nd day of the first month of Yah’s Biblical Calendar Year. During this 7-day period, we are prohibited from consuming any foods that contain leaven (aka yeast). Biblically speaking, leaven as you may know, is symbolic, in many cases, of sin. Our cessation from consuming yeast-containing foods is symbolic in many ways of the elimination of sin from our lives as a people of Yehovah.
We are to participate in a holy convocation on the first and seventh day of this week-long feast. (If you want to learn more about what a convocation is, I invite you to listen to our read my teachings on holy convocations.) We are to perform no work on these days.
Besides the daily offerings, each day of Unleavened Bread, the priests were to render unto Yehovah:
A. Burnt offerings of 2 bulls.
B. Burnt offering of 1 ram.
C. Burnt offerings of 7 yearling male lambs without blemish.
D. A grain offering of milled flour mixed with oil for both the animal offerings.
E. A goat as a sin offering.
It should be mentioned that this is the first of 3 pilgrimage feasts that every male head of household was required to make each biblical calendar year (Exo 23:14-17; Deu 16:16). The pilgrimage feasts required us to travel to and assemble ourselves before Yehovah and celebrate His set apart day, at the location where He placed His Name. When the Temple was in operation, it would have been Jerusalem.
3. (28:26-31) Shavuot (aka Feast of Weeks or Pentecost).
This moedim occurs 7-weeks after Unleavened Bread. Leviticus 23:15-16 gives the specific determination of the day that Shavuot is to occur.
Shavuot is a non-work, holy convocation day. On this day, besides the daily offerings, our priests were to render unto Yehovah:
A. Burnt offerings of 2 bulls.
B. Burnt offering of 1 ram.
C. Burnt offerings of 7 male yearling lambs.
D. A grain offering of milled flour mixed with oil for both the animal offerings.
E. A goat as a sin offering.
Shavuot is the 2nd of the 3-annual pilgrimage feasts.
4. (29:1-7) Yom Teruah (aka The Day of the Blowing of Trumpets).
Yom Teruah occurs on the first day of the 7th month of Yah’s biblical calendar year. It is non-work and holy convocation day.
On this day, besides the daily offerings, our priests were to render unto Yehovah:
A. Burnt offering of 1 bull.
B. Burnt offering of 1 ram.
C. Burnt offerings of 7 male yearling lambs without blemish.
D. A grain offering of milled flour mixed with oil for both the animal offerings.
E. A goat as a sin offering.
5. (29:7-11) Yom Kippurim (aka the Day of the Atonements).
Yom Kippur(im) holds the reputation of being the holiest day of Yah’s moedim calendar year. It falls on the 10th day of the 7th month of Yah’s biblical calendar year. We are required to observe Yom Kippurim as a total, complete day of rest, where we are prohibited from performing any kind of work. It is a holy convocation day for us as well.
Probably the most distinguishing feature of Yom Kippurim is the requirement that we perform a complete fast on that day. (If you want to know more about the keeping of Yom Kippur, I will refer you to my teachings on this set-apart day.)
On this day, besides the daily offerings, our priests were to render unto Yehovah:
A. Burnt offering of 1 bull.
B. Burnt offering of 1 ram.
C. Burnt offerings of 7 male yearling lambs without blemish.
D. A grain offering of milled flour mixed with oil for both the animal offerings.
E. A goat as a sin offering.
F. The atonement ceremony sacrifices performed by the High Priest on our behalf.
6. (29:12-34) The Feast of Tabernacles (aka Sukkot).
This is the 3rd of the 3-required pilgrimage feasts for us and Tabernacles of Sukkot is considered by most Hebrews as the highlight moedim of Yah’s biblical calendar year. It is called by many as the season of our joy.
Like Unleavened Bread in the spring of the year, Tabernacles or Sukkot is a 7-day in duration feast. The first day of the feast we convene a holy convocation and it is a no-work day.
Each day of the Feast our priests were to render unto Yah sacrifices and offerings that differed in number each day. For the sake of space and time, I will refer you to this section of our reading for the precise number and type of each offering (29:13-31).
7. (29:35-38) The Last Great Day (aka Shemini Atzeret).
This day is actually an attachment to the 7-day celebration Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot. Our text refers to it as the 8th day.
The 8th Day of the Feast is a holy convocation and no-work day for us.
On this day, besides the daily offerings, our priests were to render unto Yehovah:
A. Burnt offering of 1 bull.
B. Burnt offering of 1 ram.
C. Burnt offerings of 7 male yearling lambs without blemish.
D. A grain offering of milled flour mixed with oil for both the animal offerings.
E. A goat as a sin offering.
Our Worship Throughout Yah’s Biblical Calendar Year
Our reading concludes with instructions that direct these offerings and sacrifices to be rendered on their assigned days. The renderings of these set-apart offerings were all performed by our Levitical Priests, but we were still required to present to Yah our vows, freewill offerings, and our burnt and fellowship offerings.
This is a snapshot of what our worship was like throughout the Creator’s Biblical Calendar Year. We must remember our worship was only rendered unto Yehovah at the Tabernacle proper, and later in Jerusalem (aka Yerushalayim) at the Temple. Obviously, with there being no operating Temple and with the atoning sacrifice of our Master Yahoshua Messiah on our behalf, our worship of Yehovah today comprises:
1. Sacrifices of praise.
2. Assembling ourselves with like-minded brethren on these set-apart days.
3. Rendering financial and material offerings to those ministries that feed us.
4. Lending our talents and strengths to ministries that bless us or to our own ministries.
5. Doing good — bearing good fruit — towards others.
6. Study of Yah’s Word.
7. Prayer.
8. And other activities as Yah’s Spirit directs.
Let us joyously worship our Elohim in Spirit and in Truth daily, at the start of every month, at the start of every biblical year, and on each moedim of Yehovah. Our worship must be heartfelt and rendered with complete submission to Yehovah. In so doing, we fulfill the Great Commandment of loving Yehovah with our whole being.
Shabbat Shalom, shavu’atov, take care beloved of Messiah.