From Trumpets to Booths

Numbers 29 continues the calendar of chapter 28 with the seventh month, the climax of Israel's year. On the first day: You shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no regular work. It is a day of blowing of trumpets to you. Extra offerings were added on top of the monthly and daily offerings, so that the layers of worship built on each other.

On the tenth day came a holy convocation when the people would afflict their souls, the Day of Atonement of Leviticus 16. Its offerings were added to the sin offering of atonement and the continual burnt offering. Hebrews 9:11-12 teaches that Christ entered the holy place once for all, by His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption.

On the fifteenth day: You shall keep a feast to Yahweh seven days. The first day called for thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs. Each following day, one fewer bull was offered, until seven on the seventh day, seventy in all. The eighth day was a solemn assembly with a smaller offering. At this feast, centuries later, Jesus stood and cried, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink (John 7:37). The chapter closes: Moses told the children of Israel according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses.