Numbers 7

Offerings of the Leaders

1 Now on ¹the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, he ²anointed it and consecrated it with all its furnishings and the altar and all its utensils; he anointed them and consecrated them also.

2 Then ³the leaders of Israel, the heads of their fathers' households, ⁴made an offering (they were the leaders of the tribes; they were the ones who were over the numbered men).

3 When they brought their offering before the LORD, six ⁵covered carts and twelve * oxen, a cart for every two of the leaders and an ox for each one, then they presented them before the tabernacle.

4 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

5 "Accept these things from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and you shall give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service."

6 So Moses took the carts and the oxen and gave them to the Levites.

7 Two carts and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to ⁶their service,

8 and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to ⁷their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

9 But he did not give any to the sons of Kohath because theirs was ⁸the service of the holy objects, which they carried on the shoulder.

10 The leaders offered the dedication offering for the altar when ⁹it was anointed, so the leaders offered their offering before the altar.

11 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Let them present their offering, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar."

12 Now the one who presented his offering on the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah;

13 and his offering was one silver ¹⁰dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, ¹¹according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

14 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;

15 one bull * *, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;

16 ¹²one male goat for a sin offering;

17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of ¹³Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

18 On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, presented an offering;

19 he presented as his offering one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

20 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;

21 one bull * *, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;

22 one male goat for a sin offering;

23 and for the sacrifice of ¹⁴peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.

24 On the third day it was Eliab the son of Helon, leader of the sons of Zebulun;

25 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

26 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;

27 one young bull, one ram, one ¹⁵male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;

28 one male goat for a sin offering;

29 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day it was Elizur the son of Shedeur, leader of the sons of Reuben;

31 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

32 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;

33 one bull * *, one ram, one ¹⁶male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;

34 one male goat for a sin offering;

35 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day it was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, leader of the children of Simeon;

37 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

38 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;

39 one bull * *, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;

40 one male goat for a sin offering;

41 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day it was ¹⁷Eliasaph the son of Deuel, leader of the sons of Gad;

43 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of ¹⁸fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

44 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;

45 ¹⁹one bull * *, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;

46 one male goat for a sin offering;

47 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

48 On the seventh day it was ²⁰Elishama the son of Ammihud, leader of the sons of Ephraim;

49 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

50 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of ²¹incense;

51 ²²one bull * *, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;

52 one male goat for a sin offering;

53 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

54 On the eighth day it was ²³Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, leader of the sons of Manasseh;

55 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

56 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of ²⁴incense;

57 one bull * *, one ram, one ²⁵male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;

58 one male goat for a sin offering;

59 and for the ²⁶sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

60 On the ninth day it was ²⁷Abidan the son of Gideoni, leader of the sons of Benjamin;

61 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

62 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of ²⁸incense;

63 one bull * *, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;

64 one male goat for a ²⁹sin offering;

65 and for the sacrifice of ³⁰peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.

66 On the tenth day it was ³¹Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, leader of the sons of Dan;

67 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the ³²shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

68 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of ³³incense;

69 one bull * *, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;

70 one male goat for a sin offering;

71 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

72 On the eleventh * day it was ³⁴Pagiel the son of Ochran, leader of the sons of Asher;

73 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

74 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of ³⁵incense;

75 one bull * *, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;

76 one male goat for a sin offering;

77 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran.

78 On the twelfth * day it was ³⁶Ahira the son of Enan, leader of the sons of Naphtali;

79 his offering was one ³⁷silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

80 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;

81 one bull * *, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;

82 one male goat for a sin offering;

83 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.

84 This was ³⁸the dedication offering for the altar from the leaders of Israel when ³⁹it was anointed: twelve * silver dishes, twelve * silver bowls, twelve * gold pans,

85 each silver dish weighing one hundred and thirty shekels and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the utensils was 2,400 * * shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary;

86 the twelve * gold pans, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, according to the ⁴⁰shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the pans 120 * shekels;

87 all the oxen for the burnt offering twelve * bulls, all the rams twelve *, the male lambs one year old with their grain offering twelve *, and the male goats for a sin offering twelve *;

88 and all the oxen for the sacrifice of peace offerings 24 * bulls, all the rams 60, the male goats 60, the male lambs one year old 60. ⁴¹This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.

89 Now when ⁴²Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above ⁴³the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from ⁴⁴between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him.

Numbers 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

The offerings of the princes at the dedication of the tabernacle. (1-9) The offerings of the princes at the dedication of the altar. (10-89)

Verses 1-9 The offering of the princes to the service of the tabernacle was not made till it was fully set up. Necessary observances must always take place of free-will offerings. The more any are advanced, the greater opportunity they have of serving God and their generation. No sooner was the tabernacle set up, than provision is made for the removal of it. Even when but just settled in the world, we must be preparing for changes and removes, especially for the great change.

Verses 10-89 The princes and great men were most forward in the service of God. Here is an example to those in authority, and of the highest rank; they ought to use their honour and power, their estate and interest, to promote religion and the service of God in the places where they live. Though it was a time of joy and rejoicing, yet still, in the midst of their sacrifices, we find a sin-offering. As, in our best services, we are conscious that there is sin, there should be repentance, even in our most joyful services. In all approaches to God we must by faith look to Christ as the Sin-offering. They brought their offerings each on a day. God's work should not be done confusedly, or in a hurry; take time, and we shall have done the sooner, or, at least, we shall have done the better. If services are to be done for twelve days together, we must not call it a task and a burden. All their offerings were the same; all the tribes of Israel had an equal share in the altar, and an equal interest in the sacrifices offered upon it. He who now spake to Moses, as the Shechinah or Divine Majesty, from between the Cherubim, was the Eternal Word, the second Person in the Trinity; for all God's communion with man is by his Son, by whom he made the world, and rules the church, who is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 40:17
• 2. Exodus 40:9-11; Num 7:10, 84, 88
• 3. Numbers 1:5-16
• 4. 2 Chronicles 35:8
• 5. Isaiah 66:20
• 6. Numbers 4:24-26
• 7. Numbers 4:31, 32
• 8. Numbers 4:5-15
• 9. Numbers 7:1; 2 Chronicles 7:9
• 10. Exodus 25:29; Exodus 37:16
• 11. Numbers 3:47
• 12. Leviticus 4:23
• 13. Luke 3:32, 33
• 14. Leviticus 7:11-13
• 15. Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19
• 16. Hebrews 9:28
• 17. Numbers 1:14; Numbers 10:20
• 18. Leviticus 2:5; Leviticus 14:10
• 19. Psalms 50:8-14; Isaiah 1:11
• 20. Numbers 1:10; Numbers 2:18; 1 Chronicles 7:26
• 21. Deuteronomy 33:10; Ezekiel 8:11; Luke 1:10
• 22. Micah 6:6-8
• 23. Numbers 2:20
• 24. Exodus 30:7
• 25. Exodus 12:5; Acts 8:32; Revelation 5:6
• 26. Leviticus 3:1-17
• 27. Numbers 1:11; Numbers 2:22
• 28. Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3, 4
• 29. 2 Corinthians 5:21
• 30. Colossians 1:20
• 31. Numbers 1:12; Numbers 2:25
• 32. Exodus 30:13; Leviticus 27:25
• 33. Psalms 141:2
• 34. Numbers 1:13; Numbers 2:27
• 35. Malachi 1:11
• 36. Numbers 1:15; Numbers 2:29
• 37. Ezra 1:9, 10; Daniel 5:2
• 38. Numbers 7:10
• 39. Numbers 7:1
• 40. Exodus 30:13
• 41. Numbers 7:1, 10
• 42. Exodus 40:34, 35
• 43. Exodus 25:21, 22
• 44. Psalms 80:1; Psalms 99:1

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "stood"
• [b]. Lit "mustered"
• [c]. Lit "for serving"
• [d]. Lit "hand"
• [e]. Lit "of"
• [f]. Lit "in the day that"
• [g]. Or "platter," and so through v 85
• [h]. I.e. Approx one-half oz, and so through v 86
• [i]. Or "bull of the herd," and so through v 81
• [j]. Lit "of"
• [k]. Lit "in the day that"
• [l]. Lit "propitiatory"

Chapter Summary

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.