What does Numbers 28:2 mean?
"Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season." - Numbers 28:2

Numbers 28:2 (KJV) states, "Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season."
This verse is part of a larger section in the book of Numbers that details the various offerings and sacrifices the children of Israel were to make to the Lord. It falls within the context of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness after their deliverance from Egypt and their preparation to enter the Promised Land.
The verse begins with God commanding Moses to communicate to the Israelites the specific offerings and sacrifices they were to make to Him. The use of the word "command" indicates the seriousness and importance of these offerings, emphasizing the authority of God over His people.
The verse then mentions "My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire," indicating that these offerings were not mere human inventions, but were ordained by God Himself. This emphasizes the divine nature of the Israelites' worship and the importance of obeying God's specific instructions regarding their sacrifices.
The phrase "for a sweet savour unto me" highlights the idea that these offerings were not only a duty, but were also meant to be pleasing to God. The concept of a "sweet savour" suggests that these offerings were a fragrant aroma to the Lord, symbolizing the pleasing nature of the Israelites' obedience and worship.
The verse concludes with the instruction to "observe to offer unto me in their due season," emphasizing the importance of obedience and timing in the offering of sacrifices. This demonstrates the Israelites' responsibility to diligently follow God's commands and to offer their sacrifices at the appointed times.
One of the key themes of Numbers 28:2 is obedience. The Israelites were commanded to offer specific sacrifices and offerings to the Lord, and their obedience in doing so was crucial to their relationship with God. Obedience is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, and this verse serves as a reminder of the importance of following God's instructions and statutes.
Another theme present in this verse is the concept of worship. The offerings and sacrifices mentioned in this verse were integral to the Israelites' worship of God. By carefully observing the instructions for these offerings, the Israelites demonstrated their reverence and devotion to the Lord. This emphasizes the spiritual significance of their acts of worship and the necessity of approaching God with sincerity and reverence.
The context of Numbers 28:2 is also important for understanding its significance. The book of Numbers details the Israelites' journey from Mount Sinai to the borders of the Promised Land. Throughout their journey, God provided the Israelites with laws and regulations to govern every aspect of their lives, including their worship. This verse serves as a continuation of God's instructions regarding the offerings and sacrifices that were to be made as part of the Israelites' worship.
In addition to its themes and context, Numbers 28:2 also holds symbolic significance. The offerings and sacrifices mentioned in this verse served as a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul refers to Christ's sacrifice as a fragrant offering to God (Ephesians 5:2), emphasizing the pleasing nature of Christ's atoning sacrifice. The concept of offerings made by fire also holds symbolic significance, representing the purification and atonement provided through Christ's sacrifice.
Overall, Numbers 28:2 serves as a significant reminder of the importance of obedience, worship, and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It highlights the divine nature of the Israelites' worship and the spiritual significance of their offerings and sacrifices. As believers, we can learn from this verse the importance of approaching God with sincerity, reverence, and obedience in our worship and service to Him.
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Numbers 28:2 - "Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season."
"Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season." - Numbers 28:2
Numbers 2:28 - "And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred."
"And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred." - Numbers 2:28
Numbers 28:1 - "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
Numbers 33:28 - "And they removed from Tarah, and pitched in Mithcah."
Numbers 7:28 - "One kid of the goats for a sin offering:"
Numbers 28:16 - "And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD."
Numbers 28:30 - "And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you."
Numbers 28:28 - "And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram,"
Numbers 34:28 - "And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud."
Numbers 28:22 - "And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you."
Numbers 26:28 - "ΒΆ The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim."
Numbers 28:29 - "A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs;"
Numbers 5:28 - "And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed."
Numbers 23:28 - "And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon."
Numbers 10:28 - "Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward."
Numbers 28:17 - "And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten."
Numbers 28:21 - "A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:"
Numbers 28:23 - "Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering."
Numbers 28:10 - "This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering."
Numbers 3:28 - "In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary."
Numbers 28:18 - "In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:"
Numbers 28:4 - "The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;"
Numbers 28:5 - "And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil."
"One kid of the goats for a sin offering:" - Numbers 7:28
"And they removed from Tarah, and pitched in Mithcah." - Numbers 33:28
"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying," - Numbers 28:1
Numbers 28:25 - "And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work."
Numbers 28:6 - "It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD."