Why Israel Offers the Eighth-Day Sacrifice for Itself Alone

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Pinchas 14:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

[(Numbers 29:35:) On the eighth day there shall be a solemn assembly for you, etc.] This is what Scripture says (Psalms 109:4): "In return for my love they accuse me, but I am prayer." You find that on the festival Israel offers seventy bulls on behalf of the seventy nations; therefore they ought to love us. It is not enough that they do not love us, but moreover they hate us, as it is said (Psalms 109:4): "In return for my love they accuse me." Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: For the seven days of the festival you were offering before Me sacrifices on behalf of the nations of the world; but now, offer on behalf of yourselves. (Numbers 29:35:) On the eighth day there shall be a solemn assembly for you.

Themes

SacrificeNationsAdam EveDavidPrayer

Biblical References

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