402. And Then Some: The obligation to bring two additional lambs on Shabbos

In the last mitzvah, we mentioned how our daily prayer services correspond to the sacrifices that were offered in the Temple. On Shabbos, we say an extra prayer called Musaf, corresponding to the additional sacrifice of two lambs that was offered each Sabbath.

The reason for the extra offering on Shabbos is the same as it is for the Musaf offerings on holidays: to impress upon us the extra holiness and significance of the occasion. (Refer back to Mitzvah #299.)

This mitzvah applies when the Temple service is in effect. In the Talmud, it is discussed in tractate Menachos on pages 49a-b. It is codified in the Mishneh Torah in Hilchos Temidin U’Musafin. This mitzvah is #41 of the 248 positive mitzvos in the Rambam’s Sefer HaMitzvos.