Numbers 29: Countdown!

Numbers 29 concludes the instructions given to the people concerning daily offerings and occasional special sacrifices at the Tabernacle.  Of particular note is the eight day celebration during the Festival of the Booths.  One can't help but notice the countdown implicit in the scheduled offerings prescribed for each day of the festival:

• Day 1: 13 young bulls (vs. 13) in addition to the 2 rams, 14 year-old lambs, grain offerings, and a male goat for a sin offering.
• Day 2: 12 young bulls, etc. (vs. 17)
• Day 3: 11 young bulls, etc. (vs. 20)
• Day 4: 10 young bulls, etc. (vs. 23)
• Day 5: 9 young bulls, etc. (vs. 26)
• Day 6: 8 young bulls, etc. (vs. 29)
• Day 7: 7 young bulls, etc. (vs. 32)

This is leading to the final day, Day 8, on which is offered 1 bull, 1 ram, 7 year-old lambs, grain offerings, and the male goat for a sin offering.

Slightly tweaking the requisite number of bulls offered leads to a differentiation among the days and increases the expectancy as the festival progresses.  For some reason, it makes me think of the Advent "countdown to Christmas" or the New Year's Eve ball drop at Times Square!