Numbers 29:17 (KJV)

What does Numbers 29:17 mean?

Numbers 29:17 gives instructions for a specific sacrifice to be made on the second day of a festival, requiring twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen year-old lambs, all without blemish. This verse is part of a detailed list of offerings that the Israelites were commanded to bring during the Feast of Tabernacles.

In this passage, God is speaking to Moses, who is then to relay these instructions to the Israelites. The setting is the wilderness, as the people are preparing to enter the Promised Land. The verse emphasizes the exact number and quality of animals to be offered, showing the importance of order, obedience, and the idea that offerings to God should be without defect.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 29:17

• The word for "without spot" is תָּמִים (tamim), meaning "blameless" or "without blemish." This highlights that only perfect animals were acceptable for these offerings, stressing the idea of giving the best to God.
• The Hebrew for "young bullocks" is בֶּן־בָּקָר (ben-bakar), literally "son of a bull," which refers to a young male cow, usually in its prime. This detail underlines the value of the sacrifice being offered.
• The numbers "twelve" (שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר, shenayim asar) and "fourteen" (אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר, arba'ah asar) are specific and intentional, showing a pattern and structure to the festival sacrifices.

Why Numbers 29:17 matters

• This verse clarifies that the offerings during the Feast of Tabernacles were not random but carefully prescribed, with each day having its own set of sacrifices.
• The emphasis on animals "without spot" shows the seriousness with which worship and sacrifice were to be approached, teaching about the holiness expected in approaching God.
• By specifying the numbers and types of animals, Numbers 29:17 connects to the broader theme of order and obedience in Israel's worship, which is a recurring focus throughout the book of Numbers.