Numbers 29:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

29:12-16). As the days progress, the number of bullocks is reduced by one each day, with subsequent offerings maintaining the same proportions: two rams, fourteen lambs, and one goat. Therefore, on the second day, twelve bullocks were offered, eleven on the third day, ten on the fourth, nine on the fifth, eight on the sixth, and seven on the seventh day. Notice that while the count of the bullocks decreases daily, the number of rams and lambs, as well as the quantities of flour and libations, remain unchanged.

Palladius inquires about the significance of this arrangement, asking why there are initially thirteen bullocks with one less offered each day, while two rams and fourteen lambs stay consistent, along with an additional goat. Cyril responds that understanding these statutes is challenging, but he will endeavor to articulate his thoughts, trusting Palladius will guide him if he strays from clarity.

Cyril believes the Divine ordinance reflects both the early state of the Israelites under the law and the calling of those sanctified through faith. The sacramental symbolism of the sacrifices illustrates a distinction between two eras in which the Jewish community sought a deeper knowledge of God and adherence to His commandments: the time of Moses, Joshua, and the judges, and the time of the prophets leading up to John the Baptist, who was heralded as the greatest prophet according to the Savior’s words (Matthew 11:9-11).

Throughout these two eras, as Scripture reveals, various individuals journeyed along the path of righteousness prescribed by the law, albeit with differing degrees of spiritual strength and virtue. Some were endowed with the fullness of grace, symbolized by the calf, while others exhibited a lesser ability, exemplified by the ram. Moreover, there were those with even more diminished capacity, as demonstrated by the lambs; for the ram is indeed smaller than the calf, and the lamb smaller still than the ram.

Palladius acknowledges this reasoning, confirming its logical consistency. Cyril explains that these specified animals serve as poignant symbols representing the varying degrees of virtuous living. Since those selected for honor are often fewer in number than those of lesser status, the count begins with thirteen bullocks, accompanied by two rams and fourteen lambs. This aligns with the observation that it is natural for a greater number of virtuous individuals to exist compared to a smaller number of those marked for supreme distinction, as reflected in the righteous lives of prominent figures like Zacharias and Elizabeth, whom the Evangelist describes as “both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord” (Luke 1:6).

Palladius agrees, noting that God Himself criticizes the waywardness of His people, stating, “How the faithful city has become a harlot! She who was full of justice!” (Is. 1:21). Cyril concludes that while righteousness existed under the law—where men were tested in their obedience to God, the law was not wholly effective in achieving ultimate sanctification.

Cyril goes on to explain that the sacrifices signify the calling of Israel at three different levels: the highest (bullocks), the middle (rams), and the lowest (lambs). As the offerings of bullocks gradually decline, so too does the number of the elect, characterized by their advantages and trials. This rarity becomes increasingly pronounced as time progresses, continuing until the seventh day, which symbolizes the coming of our Savior, ushering in a spiritual Sabbath characterized by rest from sin’s burdens. For we find justification in Christ as the present age concludes, a concept again mirrored in the Sabbath, which represents the culmination of the entire week.