Numbers 29:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

and one tenth of an ephah for each of the fourteen lambs, and one goat for a sin offering, over and above the burnt offering of the continual burnt offering, and its grain offering, and their libation" (Num. 29:12-16). Each day, the count of the bullocks is reduced by one, while the offerings of rams, lambs, and the corresponding flour and libations remain constant. Thus, on the second day, there were twelve bullocks offered, eleven on the third, ten on the fourth, nine on the fifth, eight on the sixth, and seven on the seventh. Notice, then, that while the number of bullocks diminishes daily, the amount of rams, lambs, flour, and libations does not change.

Palladius inquires about the significance of this, questioning why the initial count is thirteen bullocks, decreasing by one each day, while two rams and fourteen lambs are kept constant, accompanied by a goat among the offerings. Cyril acknowledges the challenge in interpreting these statutes and intends to share his thoughts, inviting Palladius to steer the conversation as needed.

Cyril explains that this Divine ordinance symbolizes, on one hand, the formative period of the children of Israel under the law, and on the other, the calling of those sanctified through faith. He believes the sacramental portrayal of the sacrifices delineates two significant eras when the Jewish people were guided toward a deeper understanding of God and a life in accordance with His commands. These eras could be identified as the time of Moses, Joshua, and the judges, as well as the period of the prophets preceding John the Baptist, who, as noted by the Saviour, had a distinctive role in prophetic ministry (Matthew 11:9-11).

During these epochs, the Scriptures reveal a diversity among the people who, while adhering to the way of life established by the law, did not share an equal measure of spiritual strength and well-being. Some individuals embodied the highest spiritual excellence, symbolized by the bullocks, while others illustrated a measure of virtue depicted as rams. Others yet exhibited less strength, which could be represented by the humble size of the lambs: the biblical ram is smaller than the bullock, and the lamb is inferior in stature to the ram.

Palladius concurs with this reasoning. Cyril asserts that these specified animals serve as clear representations of the varying degrees of virtue in human existence. Since what is esteemed and chosen is less numerous than what follows in rank, the initial offering reflects this: thirteen bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs. As we noted, two rams means the sacrifices reflect a doubled sequence: fourteen lambs, and two rams as two entities of righteousness. It is only fitting that there exist many revered and righteous individuals, esteemed for their integrity, as the Evangelist describes Zacharias and Elizabeth, stating, "They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord" (Luke 1:6).

Palladius acknowledges this truth, noting that the Lord rebukes the mothers of the Jews, saying, "How the faithful capital, full of justice, was made a harlot! Truth dwelt in her" (Is. 1:21). Cyril reinstates that righteousness existed under the law, with individuals striving to obey God, even though the law lacked completeness in perfect sanctification.

Thus, by illustrating the divine calling of Israel from the highest to the lowest tiers—symbolized by bullocks, rams, and lambs—the sacrifices point to the gradual decline of the bullocks, paralleling the diminishing number of the elect, who were distinguished by their virtues. This scarcity continued even to the seventh day, signifying the arrival of our Saviour, culminating in a spiritual Sabbath and a cessation of sinful pursuits: we find justification in Christ when this present age draws to a close. The Sabbath, as the culmination of the week, stands as a representation of this conclusion.