Numbers 28 18

Numbers 28:18 kjv

In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:

Numbers 28:18 nkjv

On the first day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work.

Numbers 28:18 niv

On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.

Numbers 28:18 esv

On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work,

Numbers 28:18 nlt

The first day of the festival will be an official day for holy assembly, and no ordinary work may be done on that day.

Numbers 28 verses

Numbers 28 18 Meaning

Numbers 28:18 outlines the sacred regulations for the fifteenth day of the first month, marking the commencement of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. On this day, the Israelites were commanded to hold a "holy convocation," an assembly set apart for God. Furthermore, a strict prohibition was in place: "you shall do no customary work." This verse underscores the divine expectation for Israel to cease from their regular occupations and dedicate this specific time to consecrated worship and remembrance, establishing a principle of sacred rest and communal assembly at the inception of this pivotal festival.

Numbers 28 18 Context

Numbers chapter 28 initiates a meticulous, divinely mandated calendar of offerings that Israel was to present throughout the year. Beginning with the daily perpetual burnt offering, the chapter progresses through weekly Sabbath offerings, monthly new moon offerings, and then delves into the annual feast days. Verses 16-25 specifically detail the Passover and the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. Verse 18 focuses on the solemn commencement of the Feast of Unleavened Bread itself, which immediately follows the Passover observance on the 14th day. This day, the 15th of the first month (Abib/Nisan), marked a pivotal transition from the initial Passover lamb sacrifice and meal to a week of living without leaven, emphasizing purity and remembrance of their swift departure from Egyptian bondage. The historical context reflects Israel's journey from slavery, where they labored incessantly, to a covenant people now called to holy rest and devotion to their Deliverer, establishing rhythms of life centered on God's commands rather than human toil.

Numbers 28 18 Word analysis

• On the fifteenth day: (Hebrew: ba-ḥămiššāh ʿāśār yōm) This precise temporal marker signifies a specific date in God's divinely appointed calendar. The fifteenth day of the first month (Nisan/Abib) marked the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, immediately following Passover on the fourteenth. This precision emphasizes divine order and the sacredness of God's appointed times.
• of this month: Refers to the first month, designated by God as the beginning of the religious year (Ex 12:2). This recalibration of the calendar underscored a new beginning for Israel as a liberated nation under divine rule, marking the anniversary of the Exodus.
• you shall have a holy convocation: (Hebrew: miqrāʾ qōdeš yihyeh lākem)
  • holy: (qōdeš) – Set apart, sacred, consecrated to God. This signifies that the assembly's purpose was inherently divine, transcending ordinary social gatherings.
  • convocation: (miqrāʾ) – Literally "a calling" or "summoning." This implies a mandated assembly, not optional, where God Himself convenes His people. It refers to a public assembly for the purpose of religious instruction, worship, and receiving divine mandates. The act of gathering itself was sacred.
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes the collective worship and instruction mandated by God, reminding Israel of their corporate identity as God's chosen people, distinct from surrounding nations whose assemblies were often tied to pagan rituals or secular purposes.
• you shall do no customary work: (Hebrew: kol-məlaʾḵeṯ ʿăḇōḏāh lōʾ taʿăśû)
  • no customary work: (kol-məlaʾḵeṯ ʿăḇōḏāh) – This phrase translates to "all work of laborious service" or "any laborious occupation." It specifically refers to professional, vocational, or strenuous labor that would typically be performed for profit or daily subsistence (e.g., farming, building, crafts).
  • Distinction: It is important to note this is distinct from kol-melakha (all work), which is forbidden on the weekly Sabbath (Ex 20:10). On holy convocation days like this, essential tasks like food preparation were permitted (Ex 12:16), unlike the complete cessation of work on the Sabbath. The emphasis here is on refraining from the regular, strenuous activities that would distract from spiritual focus and corporate worship.
  • Significance: This command enforced sacred rest and provided a period for the people to fully concentrate on God's deliverance and their covenant responsibilities without the burdens of daily toil. It reminded them of their deliverance from forced labor in Egypt and their newfound freedom to serve God in leisure. Polemically, it contrasted sharply with the ceaseless labor for pagan gods or kings that characterized many ancient Near Eastern societies, affirming YHWH as the true God who cares for His people's well-being and demands their undivided attention in worship.

Numbers 28 18 Bonus section

• The Number 15: In the biblical calendar, the 15th day of the month often marked the beginning of major festivals (e.g., Passover/Unleavened Bread on 15th of Nisan, Tabernacles on 15th of Tishri). This positioning after the Full Moon signified fullness, completion, and often celebration and feasting, contrasting with the period of affliction that preceded the original Exodus.
• Echoes of Creation: The pattern of "six days of labor, one day of rest" (for Sabbath) extends to the annual feasts, where specific days demand a ceasing of "customary work." This connects Israel's rest from physical labor with God's rest after creation (Gen 2:2), embedding divine rest principles within the fabric of their worship life.
• Liturgical Importance: The detail in Numbers 28-29 on offerings alongside the work prohibition and holy convocation commands indicates that cessation from work was not an end in itself but facilitated participation in the elaborate sacrificial system. The rest allowed the community to dedicate their energy and resources to God's prescribed worship, highlighting the interplay between commanded rest and required service.

Numbers 28 18 Commentary

Numbers 28:18 establishes the critical principle governing the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread: it is a day set apart entirely for the Lord. The dual command—a holy convocation and cessation from customary work—underscores a fundamental aspect of Israel's relationship with God: consecrated time for worship and remembrance. This wasn't merely a day off, but a sacred pause from worldly pursuits, directing their energies towards spiritual communion and commemorating God's mighty deliverance from Egypt. It provided a type and shadow of the ultimate spiritual rest believers find in Christ (Heb 4:9-10), freeing them from the "work" of trying to earn salvation and inviting them into His accomplished work. Practically, it exemplifies prioritizing God above daily routine, fostering an environment for corporate worship, spiritual instruction, and deep reflection on His faithfulness.