🔢WEB · Numbers 28:8
What does Numbers 28:8 mean?
"The other lamb you shall offer at evening. As the meal offering of the morning, and as its drink offering, you shall offer it, an offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh."
— Numbers 28:8 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
with one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil.
It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in Mount Sinai for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
Its drink offering shall be the fourth part of a hin for the one lamb. You shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to Yahweh in the holy place.
The other lamb you shall offer at evening. As the meal offering of the morning, and as its drink offering, you shall offer it, an offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
“‘On the Sabbath day, you shall offer two male lambs a year old without defect, and two tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering:
this is the burnt offering of every Sabbath, besides the continual burnt offering, and its drink offering.
“‘In the beginnings of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering to Yahweh: two young bulls, and one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defect;
Explanation
Numbers 28:8 is part of a longer passage (Numbers 28:1-8) that establishes the daily burnt offering, often called the "continual burnt offering," which was to be presented in the tabernacle every single day without exception. The verse specifically addresses the second of two lambs offered daily — one in the morning and one in the evening. This particular instruction says that the evening lamb should be accompanied by the same grain offering and drink offering (likely wine) that accompanied the morning sacrifice, ensuring symmetry and consistency in Israel's worship throughout each day.
This passage comes from the book of Numbers, traditionally attributed to Moses, written during Israel's wilderness wanderings after the exodus from Egypt. The instructions in Numbers 28 were given to the priests and Levites who administered Israel's sacrificial system, though the broader audience is the covenant community of Israel as a whole. This chapter reviews and reaffirms offerings that had already been established earlier (compare Exodus 29:38-42), likely as part of a broader recounting of Israel's laws before entering the Promised Land. The repetition underscores the importance of maintaining consistent worship practices as the nation transitioned from wilderness life to settled life in Canaan.
Theologically, the twice-daily offering represented Israel's continual, unbroken relationship with God. The sacrifice was not a one-time or occasional act but a rhythm woven into the fabric of every day — morning and evening, like the sun's rising and setting. The phrase "a pleasant a
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