John Calvin on Numbers 28:26-31

26. Also in the day of thefirst-fruits. Moses delivers the same commandment as to another festival, viz., that on which they offered their first-fruits. Then, also, he instructs them, the continual sacrifice was to be increased by the addition of two bullocks, one ram, seven lambs, a goat for a sin-offering, together with the minha and a libation, with the object, of which I have already spoken. A perplexing difficulty here arises, because in Leviticus 23, one bullock is mentioned instead of two, and, on the contrary, two rams instead of one. “Josephus and Maimonides understand that they were distinct sacrifices. Aben-Ezra and others think that it was left to the priest which he would offer.” — Brightwell on the Pentateuch, in loco. Some think that an option was left to the priests in this matter; but when I consider how precisely God’s commands were given in everything, I question whether such an alternative was left to their discretion. The notion that God had once been content with a single bullock, as some think, because they were not abundant in the desert, appears to me a subterfuge. I confess I do not know how to get out of this difficulty, unless perhaps we say, that inasmuch as sufficiently exact provision had been made, in all other particulars, that nothing should be done without reason, in this respect only they were reminded that God in Himself cares not for greater or less victims. Nor does any reverence prevent us from saying that, as it sometimes happens in minor matters, a wrong number may have crept in from the carelessness of scribes; The conjecture of C. receives no support from the modern collections of various readings; for though the number two is wanting in one of Kennicott’s MSS., the word for bullocks is in the plural in that same MS.; and the two most ancient versions, viz., the LXX. and the Syriac agree with the received text both here and in Leviticus 23:8. — W. and this is probably the most natural solution. The more correct reading, in my opinion, is, that they should offer two bullocks and one ram; but since it is elsewhere explained why God appointed this day, he only briefly recites here: “When they bring the fainha with the first-fruits."

Numbers 29

Numbers 29:1-39

1. And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.

1. Mense autem septimo, primo die ejusdem, convocatio sancta erit vobis: nullum opus servile facietis, dies clangoris erit vobis.

2. And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish:

2. Et faeietis holocaustum in odorem quietis Jehovae, juvencum filium bovis unum, arietem unum, agnos anniculos septem immaculatos:

3. And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram,

3. Et minham eorum ex simila permixta oleo, tres decimas per singulos juvencos, duas decimas per singulos arietes:

4. And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

4. Et decimam unam per singulos agnos, per septem agnos.

5. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:

5. Et hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato, ad expiandum vos.

6. Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.

6. Praeter holocaustum calendarum, et minham ejus, et holocaustum juge, minham que ejus, et libamina eorum, secundum titus sues, in odorem quietis, oblatio ignita Jehovae.

7. And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:

7. Decimo autem die mensis septimi hujus, convocatio sancta erit vobis, affligetisque animus vestras: nullum opus facietis.

8. But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD for a sweet savour; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto you without blemish:

8. Et offeritis holocaustum Jehovae in odorem quietis, juvencum filium bovis unum, arietem unum, agnos anniculos septem: immaculati erunt vobis.

9. And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram,

9. Et minham eorum ex simila conspersa oleo, tres decimas in singulos juvencos, duas decimas in singulos arietes:

10. A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

10. Singulas decimas per agnos singulos, per septem agnos.

11. One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings.

11. Hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato: praeter oblationem pro peccato expiationum: et holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, libaminaque eorum.

12. And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:

12. Porre decimaquinta die mensis septimi, convocatio sancta erit vobis: nullum opus servile facietis, et celebrabitis solennitatem Jehovae septem diebus.

13. And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish:

13. Et holocaustum, et oblationem ignitam in odorem quietis Jehovae, juvencos filios bovis tredecim, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim: immaculati erunt.

14. And their meat-offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams,

14. Minham quoque eorum ex simila conspersa oleo, tres decimas in juvencos singulos tredecim juvencis: duas decimas in arietes singulos duobus arietibus.

15. And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs:

15. Et singulas declinus per agnos singulos, quatuordecim agnos.

16. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

16. Et hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato: prater holocaustum juge, minham ejus et libamen ejus.

17. And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:

17. Die autem secundo juvencos filios bovis duodecim, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

18. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

18. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum in juvencos, in arietes, in agnos secundum numerum eorum, juxta morem.

19. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings.

19. Et hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato: praeter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamina eorum.

20. And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish;

20. Die vero tertio juveneos undecim, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

21. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

21. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum, juxta morere.

22. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

22. Et hircum in sacrificium pro petcato unum, praeter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamen ejus.

23. And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

23. Die autem quarto juvencos decem, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

24. Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

24. Minham eorum et libamina eorum in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum, juxta morere.

25. And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

25. Et hircum caprarum unum in sacrificium pro peccato, praeter holocaustum juge, minham ejus et libamen ejus.

26. And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:

26. Et die quinto juvencos novem, arietes duos, agnos annietrios quatuordecim immaculatos.

27. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

27. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum, in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum, juxta morere.

28. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

28. Et hircum in sacrificium pro peccato unum, procter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamen ejus.

29. And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

29. Die praterea sexto jurenons otto, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

30. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

30. Et minham eormn, et libamina eorum in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum juxta morere.

31. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

31. Et hircum in sacrificium pro peccato unum: procter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamina ejus.

32. And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:

32. Et die septimo juvencos septem, arietes duos, agnos anniculos quatuordecim immaculatos.

33. And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

33. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum, in juvencos, in arietes, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum juxta morere.

34. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.

34. Et hircum in sacrificium pro peccato unum, prfeter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamen ejus.

35. On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein:

35. Die octavo solennitas erit vobis: nullum opus servile facietis.

36. But ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish:

36. Et offeretis holocaustum, et oblationem ignitam odoris quietis jehovae, juvencum unum, arietem unum, agnos anniculos septem immaculatos:

37. Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:

37. Et minham eorum, et libamina eorum, in juvencum, in arietem, et in agnos, secundum numerum eorum juxta morere.

38. And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.

38. Et hircum in sacrificium pro peccato unum: procter holocaustum juge, et minham ejus, et libamen ejus.

39. These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.

39. Ista facietis Jehovae in solemnitatibus vestris: prater vota vestra, et spontanea vestra in holocaustis vestris, et minhis vestris, et libaminibus vestris, et sacrificiis prosperitatum.