Numbers 7

Listen to Numbers 7

Offerings of Dedication

1 On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings, along with the altar and all its utensils.
2 And the leaders of Israel, the heads of their families, presented an offering. These men were the tribal leaders who had supervised the registration.
3 They brought as their offering before the LORD six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two leaders—and presented them before the tabernacle.
4 And the LORD said to Moses,
5 “Accept these gifts from them, that they may be used in the work of the Tent of Meeting. And give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.”
6 So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites.
7 He gave the Gershonites two carts and four oxen, as their service required,
8 and he gave the Merarites four carts and eight oxen, as their service required, all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
9 But he did not give any to the Kohathites, since they were to carry on their shoulders the holy objects for which they were responsible.
10 When the altar was anointed, the leaders approached with their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the altar.
11 And the LORD said to Moses, “Each day one leader is to present his offering for the dedication of the altar.”
12 On the first day Nahshon son of Amminadab from the tribe of Judah drew near with his offering.
13 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, [a] and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, [b] both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
14 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, [c] filled with incense;
15 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
16 one male goat for a sin offering;
17 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.
18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, drew near.
19 The offering he presented was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
20 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;
21 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
22 one male goat for a sin offering;
23 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.
24 On the third day Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the Zebulunites, drew near.
25 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
26 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;
27 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
28 one male goat for a sin offering;
29 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.
30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the Reubenites, drew near.
31 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
32 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;
33 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
34 one male goat for a sin offering;
35 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.
36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the Simeonites, drew near.
37 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
38 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;
39 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
40 one male goat for a sin offering;
41 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the Gadites, drew near.
43 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
44 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;
45 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
46 one male goat for a sin offering;
47 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.
48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the Ephraimites, drew near.
49 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
50 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;
51 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
52 one male goat for a sin offering;
53 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.
54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the Manassites, drew near.
55 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
56 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;
57 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
58 one male goat for a sin offering;
59 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the Benjamites, drew near.
61 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
62 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;
63 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
64 one male goat for a sin offering;
65 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.
66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the Danites, drew near.
67 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
68 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;
69 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
70 one male goat for a sin offering;
71 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, the leader of the Asherites, drew near.
73 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
74 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;
75 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
76 one male goat for a sin offering;
77 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran.
78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the Naphtalites, drew near.
79 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
80 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;
81 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
82 one male goat for a sin offering;
83 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.
84 So these were the offerings from the leaders of Israel for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold dishes.
85 Each silver platter weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each silver bowl seventy shekels. The total weight of the silver articles was two thousand four hundred shekels, [d] according to the sanctuary shekel.
86 The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. The total weight of the gold dishes was a hundred and twenty shekels. [e]
87 All the livestock for the burnt offering totaled twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve male lambs a year old—together with their grain offerings—and twelve male goats for the sin offering.
88 All the livestock sacrificed for the peace offering totaled twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty male lambs a year old. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.
89 When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the mercy seat [f] on the ark of the Testimony. [g] Thus the LORD 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.

Footnotes 7

  • [a]. 130 shekels is approximately 3.3 pounds or 1.48 kilograms; here and throughout this chapter.
  • [b]. 70 shekels is approximately 1.76 pounds or 797.8 grams; here and throughout this chapter.
  • [c]. 10 shekels is approximately 4 ounces or 114 grams; here and throughout this chapter.
  • [d]. 2,400 shekels is approximately 60.3 pounds or 27.4 kilograms.
  • [e]. 120 shekels is approximately 3 pounds or 1.4 kilograms.
  • [f]. Or atonement cover
  • [g]. That is, the ark of the covenant

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.

Numbers 7 Commentaries

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