Numbers 7

Offerings from the Leaders

1 On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle,[a] he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings, along with the altar and all its utensils. After he anointed and consecrated these things,
2 the leaders of Israel, the heads of their ancestral houses, presented [an offering]. They were the tribal leaders who supervised the registration.[b]
3 They brought as their offering before the Lord six covered carts and 12 oxen, a cart from every two leaders and an ox from each one, and presented them in front of the tabernacle.
4 The Lord said to Moses,
5 "Accept [these] from them to be used in the work of the tent of meeting, and give this offering to the Levites, to each [division] according to their 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 corresponding to their service,[c]
8 and gave the Merarites four carts and eight oxen corresponding to their service,[d] under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
9 But he did not give [any] to the Kohathites, since their responsibility was service related to the holy objects[e] carried on their shoulders.[f]
10 The leaders also presented the dedication gift for the altar when it was anointed.[g] The leaders presented their offerings in front of the altar.
11 The Lord told Moses, "Each day have one leader present his offering for the dedication of the altar."[h]
12 The one who presented his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab[i] from the tribe of Judah.
13 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds[j] and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds,[k] [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;[l]
14 one gold bowl weighing four ounces,[m] full of incense;
15 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;[n]
16 one male goat for a sin offering;[o]
17 and two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice.[p] This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.
18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar,[q] leader of Issachar, presented [an offering].
19 As his offering, he presented one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds[r] and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds,[s] [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
20 one gold bowl weighing four ounces,[t] full of 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 two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.
24 On the third day Eliab son of Helon,[u] leader of the Zebulunites, [presented an offering].
25 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds[v] and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds,[w] [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
26 one gold bowl weighing four ounces,[x] full of 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 two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.
30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur,[y] leader of the Reubenites, [presented an offering].
31 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds[z] and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds,[aa] [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
32 one gold bowl weighing four ounces,[ab] full of 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 two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.
36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,[ac] leader of the Simeonites, [presented an offering].
37 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds[ad] and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds,[ae] [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
38 one gold bowl weighing four ounces,[af] full of 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 two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel,[ag] [ah] leader of the Gadites, [presented an offering].
43 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds[ai] and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds,[aj] [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
44 one gold bowl weighing four ounces,[ak] full of 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 two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.[al]
48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud,[am] leader of the Ephraimites, [presented an offering].
49 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds[an] and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds,[ao] [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
50 one gold bowl weighing four ounces,[ap] full of 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 two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.
54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,[aq] leader of the Manassites, [presented an offering].
55 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds[ar] and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds,[as] [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
56 one gold bowl weighing four ounces,[at] full of 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 two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni,[au] leader of the Benjaminites, [presented an offering].
61 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds[av] and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds,[aw] [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
62 one gold bowl weighing four ounces,[ax] full of 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 two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.
66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai,[ay] leader of the Danites, [presented an offering].
67 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds[az] and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds,[ba] [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
68 one gold bowl weighing four ounces,[bb] full of 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 two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ochran,[bc] leader of the Asherites, [presented an offering].
73 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds[bd] and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds,[be] [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
74 one gold bowl weighing four ounces,[bf] full of 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 two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ochran.
78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan,[bg] leader of the Naphtalites, [presented an offering].
79 His offering was one silver dish weighing three and a quarter pounds[bh] and one silver basin weighing one and three-quarter pounds,[bi] [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
80 one gold bowl weighing four ounces,[bj] full of 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 two bulls, five rams, five male breeding goats, and five male lambs a year old, for the fellowship sacrifice. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.
84 This was the dedication gift from the leaders of Israel for the altar when it was anointed:[bk] 12 silver dishes, 12 silver basins, and 12 gold bowls.
85 Each silver dish [weighed] three and a quarter pounds,[bl] and each basin one and three-quarter pounds.[bm] The total [weight] of the silver articles was 60 pounds[bn] [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel.
86 The 12 gold bowls full of incense each [weighed] four ounces[bo] [measured] by the standard sanctuary shekel. The total [weight] of the gold bowls was three pounds.[bp]
87 All the livestock for the burnt offering[bq] totaled 12 bulls, 12 rams, and 12 male lambs a year old, with their grain offerings, and 12 male goats for the sin offering.[br]
88 All the livestock for the fellowship sacrifice[bs] totaled 24 bulls, 60 rams, 60 male breeding goats, and 60 male lambs a year old. This was the dedication gift 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[bt] from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim.[bu] He spoke to him [that way].

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 73

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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