Numbers 7:1-9

Offerings at the Tabernacle's Consecration

1 On the day when Moses had finished 1setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and 2consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils,
2 3the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached
3 and brought their offerings before the LORD, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle.
4 Then the LORD said to Moses,
5 "Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service."
6 So Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites.
7 Two wagons and four oxen 4he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service.
8 And four wagons and eight oxen 5he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with 6the service of the holy things that 7had to be carried on the shoulder.

Numbers 7:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 7

This chapter gives an account of the presents brought, by the princes of the twelve tribes at the setting up of the tabernacle, for the use of it, Nu 7:1-9; and at the dedication of the altar, and the service of that, Nu 7:10,11; first of the prince of the tribe of Judah, Nu 7:12-17; then of the prince of Issachar, Nu 7:18-23; of the prince of Zebulun, Nu 7:24-29; of the prince of Reuben, Nu 7:30-35; of the prince of Simeon, Nu 7:36-41; of the prince of Gad, Nu 7:42-47; of the prince of Ephraim, Nu 7:48-53; of the prince of Manasseh, Nu 7:54-59; of the prince of Benjamin, Nu 7:60-65; of the prince of Dan, Nu 7:66-71; of the prince of Asher, Nu 7:72-77; of the prince of Naphtali, Nu 7:78-83; the sum of all which follows, Nu 7:84-88; and the chapter is concluded with a token of God's approbation and acceptance of the whole, Nu 7:89.

Cross References 7

  • 1. Exodus 40:17, 18
  • 2. Leviticus 8:10, 11
  • 3. Numbers 1:4
  • 4. Numbers 4:25, 28
  • 5. Numbers 4:29, 31, 33
  • 6. Numbers 3:31; See Numbers 4:4-15
  • 7. [2 Samuel 6:13; 1 Chronicles 15:5, 15]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.