Topical Bible: Offerings: Burnt: Offered Daily, Morning and Evening

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In the ancient Israelite religious system, the burnt offering held a central place in the daily worship practices prescribed by God. These offerings were a vital part of the sacrificial system established in the Mosaic Law, serving as a continual reminder of the people's devotion to God and their need for atonement.

Biblical Foundation

The command for daily burnt offerings is found in the Pentateuch, specifically in the Book of Exodus and the Book of Numbers. In Exodus 29:38-42, God instructs Moses regarding the daily offerings: "Now this is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight" (Exodus 29:38-39). This passage outlines the requirement for a consistent, twice-daily sacrifice, symbolizing the perpetual worship and dedication of the Israelites to Yahweh.

Numbers 28:3-4 reiterates this command: "And you shall say to them, ‘This is the offering made by fire that you are to present to the LORD: two unblemished year-old male lambs each day, as a regular burnt offering. Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight" . These verses emphasize the importance of the offerings being unblemished, signifying purity and the best of what the people could offer to God.

Purpose and Significance

The daily burnt offerings served multiple purposes within the Israelite community. Primarily, they were acts of worship and devotion, acknowledging God's sovereignty and the people's dependence on Him. The regularity of these offerings underscored the need for continual atonement and reconciliation with God, as sin was an ever-present reality in the lives of the Israelites.

Moreover, the morning and evening sacrifices bookended the day with acts of worship, symbolizing the beginning and end of daily activities under the watchful eye of God. This rhythm of worship was intended to keep the community focused on their covenant relationship with God, fostering a sense of holiness and dedication.

Ritual and Practice

The ritual of the daily burnt offering was a detailed and solemn practice. The priests, who were descendants of Aaron, were responsible for carrying out these sacrifices. The lambs were to be without blemish, representing the purity required in offerings to a holy God. The sacrifice involved the complete burning of the animal on the altar, signifying total surrender and dedication to God.

Accompanying the burnt offering were grain offerings and drink offerings, as specified in Numbers 28:5-8. These additional offerings complemented the burnt offering, creating a comprehensive act of worship that involved various elements of the Israelites' agricultural produce.

Theological Implications

The daily burnt offerings foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is described in the New Testament as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The regularity and necessity of the burnt offerings highlighted humanity's need for a perfect and final atonement, which was fulfilled in Christ's sacrificial death on the cross.

In the context of the Old Testament, these offerings were a means of maintaining the covenant relationship between God and His people. They were a constant reminder of God's holiness, the seriousness of sin, and the grace available through atonement. The daily offerings pointed forward to the perfect and complete sacrifice of Jesus, who offered Himself once for all (Hebrews 10:10).

Conclusion

The practice of offering daily burnt sacrifices, both morning and evening, was a foundational aspect of Israelite worship. It underscored the importance of continual devotion, atonement, and the anticipation of the ultimate sacrifice that would be made by the Messiah. Through these offerings, the Israelites expressed their commitment to God and their reliance on His mercy and grace.

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Genesis 15:17
And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
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Exodus 29:38-42
Now this is that which you shall offer on the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually.
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Leviticus 6:20
This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer to the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night.
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Numbers 28:1
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
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Numbers 29:6
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 to their manner, for a sweet smell, a sacrifice made by fire to the LORD.
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1 Chronicles 16:40
To offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel;
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2 Chronicles 2:4
Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual show bread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
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2 Chronicles 13:11
And they burn to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the show bread also set they in order on the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but you have forsaken him.
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Ezra 3:3
And they set the altar on his bases; for fear was on them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon to the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.
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Ezekiel 46:13-15
You shall daily prepare a burnt offering to the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish: you shall prepare it every morning.
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Library

Authorship of the Pentateuch.
... the Lord, even burnt-offerings morning and evening. They kept also the feast of
tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt-offerings by number ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter ix authorship of the.htm

Altar and Temple
... the Lord, even burnt offerings morning and evening.4. They kept also the feast of
tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/altar and temple.htm

High Priest
... about, and then to offer of it a burnt-offering; to ... of sin and the priest should
eat these offerings at the ... for this he did once, when he offered up himself. ...
/.../conversion of a high priest into a christian worker/chapter iv high priest.htm

Separation to God.
... was of two bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs, with their meat and drink-offerings,
for a burnt-offering, while one ... The same offerings were offered at the ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part i separation to god.htm

Scriptural Types.
... to offer." Chap.8:3. The Levitical priests stood "daily ministering, and ... them, and
rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

The Worship of the Synagogue
... to say this and the other daily prayers"to ... up before the ark." The prayers offered
before the ... Accept the burnt-offerings of Israel, and their prayers, with ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 17 the worship of.htm

Concerning the Festivals; and How Each Day of Such Festival is to ...
... was burnt in that sacred fire wherein all their offerings were burnt also; and so ...
The high priest also, of his own charges, offered a sacrifice, and that ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 concerning the festivals.htm

Entire Sanctification in Type.
... the Day of Atonement, the offerings at the various feasts, and innumerable sacrifices
offered for individuals ... are, the peace offering, the burnt offering, these ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter iv entire sanctification in.htm

My Second Year in Benares.
... Benares every day, pay obeisance, and present offerings; but on ... of which an enormous
quantity was offered for sale ... body to some rivulet to have it burnt, or, as ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter ix my second year.htm

In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast'
... except that the number of bullocks offered decreased daily ... sacrifice on the great
Altar of Burnt-offering, [4005 ... for the day, with their drink-offerings, and by ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in the last.htm