Why is a sin offering required alongside the atonement offering in Numbers 29:11? Text of Numbers 29:7-11 “On the tenth day of the seventh month you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you must humble yourselves; you must not do any work. You are to present to the LORD a burnt offering—a pleasing aroma: one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished—together with their grain and drink offerings, according to the regulation for each. Also one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain and drink offerings.” Historical-Liturgical Setting Numbers 29 enumerates the sacrifices for the seventh-month festivals, climaxing with the Day of Atonement (Yôm hakkippurîm, Leviticus 16). Two distinct “sin offerings” (ḥaṭṭāʾṯ) are listed: (1) “the sin offering for atonement” already established in Leviticus 16, and (2) “one male goat for a sin offering” presented with the day’s public burnt offering. The Hebrew syntax (lǝ ḵaṭṭāʾṯ hakkippurîm … wǝ seʿîr ʿizzîm lǝ ḵaṭṭāʾṯ) treats them as separate acts. Terminology and Function of the Two Offerings • Sin offering (ḥaṭṭāʾṯ): removes impurity resulting from sin, restores covenant relationship (Leviticus 4; 6:24-30). • Kippur/atonement (kāp̱ar): “to cover, purge, ransom,” emphasizing reconciliation through substitutionary blood (Leviticus 17:11). • Day-specific “sin offering for atonement” (Leviticus 16:5-19): two goats—one slaughtered, one sent away—deal with national guilt and sanctuary defilement. • The additional male goat in Numbers 29:11: part of the festival “daily” schedule analogous to every new-moon or feast-day ḥaṭṭāʾṯ (Numbers 28:15, 22, 30). Distinct Roles within One Liturgical Event 1. Sanctuary Purification—Leviticus 16 Goat • Blood sprinkled in Most Holy Place, Holy Place, and altar (Leviticus 16:15-19). • Purpose: decontaminate God’s dwelling from accumulated covenant violations (Leviticus 16:16). 2. Congregational Purification—Numbers 29 Goat • Slaughtered on the altar in forecourt like other festival sin offerings (Leviticus 4:25-35). • Purpose: cleanse the worshipers so they can corporately present the burnt, grain, and drink offerings “as a soothing aroma” (Numbers 29:8-10). Layers of Holiness and Access Torah structures holiness concentrically (Exodus 19:12-24; Numbers 1:50-53). Defilement exists in tiers: individual, communal, and cultic/sanctuary. Therefore God prescribes tiered sacrifices on the Day of Atonement: • Inner tier—Leviticus 16 rite reaches the Holy of Holies once per year. • Outer tier—Numbers 29 goat addresses ordinary sin so the community can remain in proper fellowship that same day. Theological Rationale 1. Totality of Atonement: God’s provision is comprehensive—no sphere of life left unpurged (Leviticus 16:33). 2. Reminder of Human Frailty: Even on the holiest day, worshipers still need an additional sin offering; atonement is grace, not merit (Isaiah 64:6). 3. Foreshadowing Christ’s Once-for-All Sacrifice: The repetitive dual offerings underscore their provisional nature (Hebrews 10:1-4). Jesus fulfills both layers—cleansing heaven’s sanctuary (Hebrews 9:23-26) and removing individual guilt (Hebrews 9:14). 4. Covenant Renewal: The people’s fresh sin offering signifies a re-entry into covenant rest for the new civil-religious year (Leviticus 25:9). Christological Fulfilment Romans 3:25 describes Christ as “a propitiation through faith in His blood.” Hebrews aligns Him with the Yom Kippur liturgy, entering “the greater and more perfect tabernacle” (Hebrews 9:11). His single sacrifice satisfies both functions typified in Numbers 29: • Heavenly purification—access before God secured. • Personal cleansing—believers “draw near with a sincere heart” (Hebrews 10:22). Practical and Behavioral Implications 1. Confession and Repentance: God’s people continually acknowledge sin even amid worship (1 John 1:8-9). 2. Humility on Holy Days: Fasting (“you must humble yourselves,” Numbers 29:7) joined with sacrifice teaches self-abasement rather than ritualism (Isaiah 58:3-7). 3. Community Solidarity: A single goat offered for all inculcates corporate responsibility (Daniel 9:5-11). 4. Total Devotion: Burnt, grain, and drink offerings accompany the sin offering, modeling holistic surrender—time, labor, possessions—to God (Romans 12:1-2). Answer in Summary A second sin offering accompanies the atonement offering in Numbers 29:11 because God ordained two complementary purgations on the Day of Atonement: one goat to cleanse the sanctuary at the deepest level, another to cleanse the congregation so they could present their festival gifts. This dual provision illustrates the fullness of divine atonement, anticipates the all-sufficient sacrifice of Christ, and teaches Israel—and us—to approach the Holy One with both corporate and individual repentance. |
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