« | Numbers 28 | » |
1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "Command the children of Israel, and say to them, 'My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire as a sweet aroma to Me, you shall be careful to offer to Me at their appointed time.'
3 "And you shall say to them, 'This [is] the offering made by fire which you shall offer to the LORD: two male lambs in their first year without blemish, day by day, as a regular burnt offering.
4 'The one lamb you shall offer in the morning, the other lamb you shall offer in the evening,
5 'and one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering mixed with one-fourth of a hin of pressed oil.
6 '[It is] a regular burnt offering which was ordained at Mount Sinai for a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.
7 'And its drink offering [shall be] one-fourth of a hin for each lamb; in a holy [place] you shall pour out the drink to the LORD as an offering.
8 'The other lamb you shall offer in the evening; as the morning grain offering and its drink offering, you shall offer [it] as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.
9 ' And on the Sabbath day two lambs in their first year, without blemish, and two-tenths [of an ephah] of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, with its drink offering --
10 '[this is] the burnt offering for every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering with its drink offering.
11 ' At the beginnings of your months you shall present a burnt offering to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year, without blemish;
12 'three-tenths [of an ephah] of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, for each bull; two-tenths [of an ephah] of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, for the one ram;
13 'and one-tenth [of an ephah] of fine flour, mixed with oil, as a grain offering for each lamb, as a burnt offering of sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.
14 'Their drink offering shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, one-third of a hin for a ram, and one-fourth of a hin for a lamb; this [is] the burnt offering for each month throughout the months of the year.
15 'Also one kid of the goats as a sin offering to the LORD shall be offered, besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
16 ' On the fourteenth day of the first month [is] the Passover of the LORD.
17 'And on the fifteenth day of this month [is] the feast; unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days.
18 'On the first day [you shall have] a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work.
19 'And you shall present an offering made by fire as a burnt offering to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year. Be sure they are without blemish.
20 'Their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths [of an ephah] you shall offer for a bull, and two-tenths for a ram;
21 'you shall offer one-tenth [of an ephah] for each of the seven lambs;
22 'also one goat [as] a sin offering, to make atonement for you.
23 'You shall offer these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which [is] for a regular burnt offering.
24 'In this manner you shall offer the food of the offering made by fire daily for seven days, as a sweet aroma to the LORD; it shall be offered besides the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
25 'And on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work.
26 ' Also on the day of the firstfruits, when you bring a new grain offering to the LORD at your [Feast of] Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work.
27 'You shall present a burnt offering as a sweet aroma to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year,
28 'with their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths [of an ephah] for each bull, two-tenths for the one ram,
29 'and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs;
30 '[also] one kid of the goats, to make atonement for you.
31 'Be sure they are without blemish. You shall present [them] with their drink offerings, besides the regular burnt offering with its grain offering.
The New King James Version (NKJV)
The New King James Version (NKJV) is a modern translation of the Bible that seeks to preserve the stylistic and literary beauty of the original King James Version (KJV) while making it more accessible to contemporary readers. The project to create the NKJV began in 1975, spearheaded by Arthur Farstad and a team of over 130 scholars, theologians, and pastors. They aimed to maintain the traditional language and rhythm of the KJV while updating archaic terms and expressions to be more understandable for modern audiences. The translation was completed and published in 1982, offering a blend of reverence for the past and clarity for the present.
One of the defining features of the NKJV is its commitment to the Textus Receptus, the same Greek text underlying the New Testament of the KJV. This ensures a high degree of continuity between the two versions, making the NKJV familiar to those who have long cherished the KJV. However, the NKJV also considers findings from more recent scholarship and textual criticism, incorporating insights from the latest manuscripts and research. This approach helps to balance respect for the historical text with a recognition of the advancements in biblical studies.
The NKJV has been praised for its readability and poetic qualities, which make it suitable for both private study and public worship. Its translators worked diligently to preserve the lyrical and memorable phrasing of the KJV, which has deeply influenced English literature and religious practice. By modernizing the language without compromising the text’s inherent dignity and solemnity, the NKJV has become a popular choice among those who value both accuracy and elegance in their Bible reading.
Despite its strengths, the NKJV has faced criticism from some quarters. Critics argue that by adhering too closely to the Textus Receptus, it may not fully reflect the breadth of available manuscript evidence. Others feel that it may still be too archaic for some readers, especially those who are new to the Bible or who come from different linguistic backgrounds. Nonetheless, the NKJV remains a significant and respected translation, offering a bridge between the venerable tradition of the KJV and the needs of modern readers.