« | Numbers 28 | » |
1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said,
2 "Give this command to the Israelites. Tell them to be sure to give the grain offerings and sacrifices to me at the right time as sweet-smelling gifts.
3 These are gifts that they must give to the Lord. Every day they must give 2 lambs that are one year old. There must be nothing wrong with them.
4 Offer one of the lambs in the morning and the other lamb just before dark.
5 Also give a grain offering of 8 cups of fine flour mixed with 1 quart of olive oil."
6 (They started giving the daily offerings at Mount Sinai as sweet-smelling gifts to the Lord.)
7 "The people must also give the drink offerings that go with the gifts. They must give 1 quart of wine with every lamb. Pour that drink offering {on the altar} in the Holy Place. This is a gift to the Lord.
8 Offer the second lamb just before dark. Offer it just as the morning offering. Also give the drink offering that goes with it. This will be a sweet-smelling gift to the Lord.
9 "On the Sabbath, you must give 2 lambs that are one year old. There must be nothing wrong with them. You must also give a grain offering of 16 cups of fine flour mixed with olive oil, and a drink offering.
10 This is a special offering for the day of rest. This offering is in addition to the regular daily offering and drink offering.
11 "On the first day of each month you will offer a special burnt offering to the Lord. This offering will be 2 male bulls, 1 ram, and 7 lambs that are one year old. There must be nothing wrong with them.
12 With each bull, you must give a grain offering of 24 cups of fine flour mixed with olive oil. And with the ram, you must give a grain offering of 16 cups of fine flour mixed with olive oil.
13 Also give a grain offering of 8 cups of fine flour mixed with olive oil with each lamb. This will be a sweet-smelling gift to the Lord.
14 The drink offering will be 2 quarts of wine with each bull, 1?quarts of wine with the ram, and 1 quart of wine with each lamb. That is the burnt offering that must be offered each month of the year.
15 In addition to the regular daily burnt offering and drink offering, you must also give 1 male goat to the Lord. That goat will be a sin offering.
16 "The Lord's Passover will be on the 14 day of the first month.
17 The Festival of Unleavened Bread begins on the 15 day of that month. This festival lasts for seven days. The only bread you can eat is bread made without yeast.
18 You must have a special meeting on the first day of this festival. You will not do any work on that day.
19 You will give burnt offerings to the Lord. The burnt offerings will be 2 bulls, 1 ram, and 7 lambs that are one year old. There must be nothing wrong with them.
20 You must also give a grain offering of 24 cups of fine flour mixed with olive oil with each bull, and 16 cups of fine flour mixed with oil with the ram, and 8 cups of fine flour mixed with oil for each lamb.
21
22 You must also give 1 male goat. That goat will be a sin offering to make you pure.
23 You must give these offerings in addition to the morning burnt offerings that you give every day.
24 "In the same way, each day for seven days, you must give the gifts to the Lord and the drink offerings that go with them. The smell of these offerings will please the Lord. The offerings will be food for the people. You must give these offerings in addition to the burnt offerings that you give every day.
25 "Then, on the seventh day of this festival, you will have another special meeting. You will not do any work on that day.
26 "At the Festival of Weeks use the first of the new crops to give a grain offering to the Lord. At that time you must also call a special meeting. You must not do any work on that day.
27 You must offer a burnt offering as a sweet-smelling gift to the Lord. You must offer 2 bulls, 1 ram, and 7 lambs that are one year old. There must be nothing wrong with them.
28 You must also give 24 cups of fine flour mixed with oil with each bull, and 16 cups with each ram,
29 and 8 cups with each lamb.
30 You must also sacrifice 1 male goat to make you pure.
31 You must give these offerings in addition to the daily burnt offerings and the grain offering you give with them. Be sure there is nothing wrong with the animals or the drink offerings that you give with them.
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.