Numbers – Chapter 28

Old Testament31 Verses

Chapter Summary

"The Lord also said to Moses:" — so begins Numbers 28. Moses stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 31 verses, two threads run through the text: worship and praise and God feeding His people. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1The Lord also said to Moses:

2Command the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: Offer ye my oblation and my bread, and burnt sacrifice of most sweet odour, in their due seasons.

3These are the sacrifices which you shall offer: Two lambs of a year old without blemish every day for the perpetual holocaust:

4One you shall offer in the mornings, and the other in the evening:

5And the tenth part of an ephi of flour, which shall be tempered with the, purest oil, of the measure of the fourth part of a hin.

6It is the continual holocaust which you offered in mount Sinai for a most sweet odour of a sacrifice by fire to the Lord.

7And for a libation you shall offer of wine the fourth part of a hin for every lamb in the sanctuary of the Lord.

8And you shall offer the other lamb in like manner in the evening according to all the rites of the morning sacrifice, and of the libations thereof, an oblation of most sweet odour to the Lord.

9And on the sabbath day you shall offer two lambs of a year old without blemish, and two tenths of flour tempered with oil in sacrifice, and the libations,

10Which regularly are poured out every sabbath for the perpetual holocaust.

11And on the first day of the month you shall offer a holocaust to the Lord, two calves of the herd, one ram, and seven lambs of a year old, without blemish,

12And three tenths of flour tempered with oil in sacrifice for every calf: and two tenths of flour tempered with oil for every ram:

13And the tenth of a tenth of flour tempered with oil in sacrifice for every lamb. It is a holocaust of most sweet odour and an offering by fire to the Lord.

14And these shall be the libations of wine that are to be poured out for every victim: Half a hin for every calf, a third for a ram, and a fourth for a lamb. This shall be the holocaust for every month, as they succeed one another in the course of the year.

15A buck goat also shall be offered to the Lord for a sin offering over and above the perpetual holocaust with its libations.

16And in the first month, on the four tenth day of the month, shall be the phase of the Lord,

17And on the fifteenth day the solemn feast: seven days shall they eat unleavened bread.

18And the first day of them shall be venerable and holy: you shall not do any servile work therein.

19And you shall offer a burnt sacrifice a holocaust to the Lord, two calves of the herd, one ram, seven lambs of a year old, without blemish:

20And for the sacrifice of every one three tenths of flour which shall be tempered with oil to every calf, and two tenths to every ram,

21And the tenth of a tenth, to every lamb, that is to say, to all the seven lambs:

22And one buck goat for sin, to make atonement for you,

23Besides the morning holocaust which you shall always offer.

24So shall you do every day of the seven days for the food of the fire, and for a most sweet odour to the Lord, which shall rise from the holocaust, and from the libations of each.

25The seventh day also shall be most solemn and holy unto you, you shall do no servile work therein.

26The day also of firstfruits, when after the weeks are accomplished, you shall offer new fruits to the Lord, shall be venerable and holy: you shall do no servile work therein.

27And you shall offer a holocaust for a most sweet odour to the Lord, two calves of the herd, one ram, and seven lambs of a year old, without blemish:

28And in the sacrifices of them three tenths of flour tempered with oil to every calf, two to every ram,

29The tenth of a tenth to every lamb, which in all are seven lambs: a buck goat also,

30Which is slain for expiation: besides the perpetual holocaust and the libations thereof.

31You shall offer them all without blemish with their libations.

Important Verses in Numbers 28

The Lord also said to Moses:

Numbers 28:1

It is the continual holocaust which you offered in mount Sinai for a most sweet odour of a sacrifice by fire to the Lord.

Numbers 28:6

And on the first day of the month you shall offer a holocaust to the Lord, two calves of the herd, one ram, and seven lambs of a year old, without blemish,

Numbers 28:11

The day also of firstfruits, when after the weeks are accomplished, you shall offer new fruits to the Lord, shall be venerable and holy: you shall do no servile work therein.

Numbers 28:26

Historical Context

Numbers addresses israel on the threshold of the Promised Land, warned by the failures of the wilderness generation within the broader story of God's covenant people. Chapter 28 of 36 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 31 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Moses, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. The chapter begins: "The Lord also said to Moses:" The chapter ends with: "You shall offer them all without blemish with their libations. " Read against its original backdrop, Numbers takes its name from the two censuses of Israel and covers nearly forty years of wandering between Sinai and the plains of Moab. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Wilderness traditions of the 13th century BC; final form by the 5th century BC.

Who Wrote It

Traditionally attributed to Moses, with priestly editing

When It Was Written

Wilderness traditions of the 13th century BC; final form by the 5th century BC

Catholic Commentary

The literal sense of Numbers 28 presents a concrete episode in the history of wilderness journey and God's faithfulness. A pivotal line is verse 1: "The Lord also said to Moses:" The passage repeatedly touches on worship and praise.

According to Catholic interpretation, this chapter contributes to the book's portrait of wilderness journey and God's faithfulness. the Church sees Israel's journey as an image of our pilgrimage to heaven (CIC 2119). The Catechism and the liturgy frequently draw on such passages to nourish faith and moral life (CIC 1265).

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • From the manna to the Last Supper, God feeds His people — fully in the Eucharist.
  • 'Be holy, for I am holy': God calls His people to be set apart for Him in every area of life.

People in This Chapter

Moses1 mention

Reflection for Today

The late section of Numbers—Chapter 28 of 36—opens a particular moment in the story of wilderness journey and God's faithfulness.

According to Catholic teaching, the Church sees Israel's journey as an image of our pilgrimage to heaven (CIC 2119). This chapter especially highlights sacrificial love modeled on Christ, a theme the Catechism develops in relation to the whole of revelation (CIC 2559).

Let Numbers Chapter 28 deepen your love for the Eucharist, where the Word made flesh continues to feed His people. The same Christ who speaks in Scripture offers Himself sacramentally on the altar.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Numbers Chapter 28 about?

Numbers 28 contains 31 verses. It opens with "The Lord also said to Moses:" and closes with "You shall offer them all without blemish with their libations. ". The book as a whole is narrative, census lists, and law.

What is a key verse in Numbers 28?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "The Lord also said to Moses:" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Numbers Chapter 28?

This chapter mentions Moses.

Who wrote Numbers and when?

Traditionally attributed to Moses, with priestly editing. Wilderness traditions of the 13th century BC; final form by the 5th century BC.

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