Question 1

What happens at the beginning of each month in this passage?

Accepted Answer

In this passage, God tells Israel what to do on the first day of every month, when the new moon appears. They are to bring a special set of offerings to him. This includes two young bulls, one ram, and seven year-old lambs without defects as a burnt offering, along with grain mixed with oil and wine poured out as drink offerings. In addition, they must bring one young goat as a sin offering. All of this is done besides the regular daily burnt offering that never stopped.

Question 2

Why were there extra sacrifices on the first day of the month?

Accepted Answer

The extra sacrifices on the first day of the month marked the start of a new month as a time given to God. The people thanked him for his care over their days and seasons and honored him as the one who orders time. The large burnt offering showed full devotion and praise, while the goat as a sin offering admitted that they were still sinners who needed forgiveness. Doing this every month reminded them regularly of God’s kindness and their ongoing need for his mercy.

Question 3

What is the meaning of the burnt offering in this passage?

Accepted Answer

The burnt offering here is a whole offering given up to God. Two bulls, one ram, and seven lambs are burned, and the smoke is described as a sweet smell to the Lord. This picture shows a gift fully given, not held back. It is not mainly about one specific sin but about honoring God, thanking him, and giving themselves to him. The size of the offering at the month’s beginning points to the weight they placed on worship and on starting each month with God at the center.

Question 4

Why is a kid of the goats offered for a sin offering?

Accepted Answer

Alongside the burnt offerings of bulls, ram, and lambs, God commands that one young goat be brought as a sin offering. This shows that even while they worship and thank God for his care in every month, they still need their sins covered. The goat points to the need for dealing with guilt, not just giving gifts of thanks. It keeps the people honest about their hearts. They do not come to God as perfect people, but as those who must confess sin and seek the forgiveness he provides.

Question 5

What is the role of the grain and drink offerings here?

Accepted Answer

The grain and drink offerings go along with the burnt offerings of animals. For each bull, ram, and lamb there is a set amount of fine flour mixed with oil, and wine poured out. These show that not only animals but also the fruit of their fields and vines belong to God. The oil and wine likely came from their daily food and joy. Bringing them with the animals made the worship more complete, as if they were saying that all their work, food, and gladness came from the Lord and were given back to him.

Question 6

How often were these monthly offerings to be made?

Accepted Answer

These offerings were not a one-time event. The passage says this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the year. That means on the first day of every month, the people were to repeat the same pattern of bulls, ram, lambs, grain, oil, wine, and the goat for a sin offering. They were not to delay it or move it to a later time. The regular rhythm of these offerings kept their months marked by worship and reminded them that every new beginning came from God.

Question 7

Were the daily offerings stopped when the monthly offerings were made?

Accepted Answer

The daily offerings were not stopped for the monthly sacrifices. The passage clearly says that the goat for a sin offering is brought beside the continual burnt offering and its drink offering. The same is true for the burnt offerings of bulls, ram, and lambs. This means the regular morning and evening burnt offerings kept going as usual, and the monthly offerings were added on top. God’s steady worship pattern stayed in place, and the special monthly service was built on that daily foundation.

Question 8

What does this passage show about God’s character?

Accepted Answer

This passage shows that God is orderly, attentive to details, and worthy of regular worship. He cares about how his people mark time and wants their months, not just their days, to begin with him. The careful instructions about animals without blemish, measured flour, oil, and wine show that he is holy and deserves the best. At the same time, the command to bring a sin offering every month shows that he is ready to deal with sin and provide a way for people to live before him.

Numbers 28:11

¶ And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the Lord; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;

The Monthly Offerings

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Numbers 28:11

¶ And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the Lord; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;

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The Monthly Offerings

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