Numbers 7

Listen to Numbers 7

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.
10 And the chiefs offered offerings for the 8dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed; and the chiefs offered their offering before the altar.
11 And the LORD said to Moses, "They shall offer their offerings, one chief each day, for the dedication of the altar."
12 He who offered his offering the first day was 9Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah.
13 And his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels,[a] one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to 10the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a 11grain offering;
14 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of 12incense;
15 13one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
16 one male goat for a 14sin offering;
17 and for 15the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
18 On the second day 16Nethanel the son of Zuar, the chief of Issachar, made an offering.
19 He offered for his offering one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
20 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
21 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
22 one male goat for a sin offering;
23 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.
24 On the third day 17Eliab the son of Helon, the chief of the people of Zebulun:
25 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
26 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
27 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a 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, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
30 On the fourth day 18Elizur the son of Shedeur, the chief of the people of Reuben:
31 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
32 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
33 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a 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, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
36 On the fifth day 19Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, the chief of the people of Simeon:
37 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
38 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
39 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a 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, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
42 On the sixth day 20Eliasaph the son of Deuel, the chief of the people of Gad:
43 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
44 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
45 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a 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, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
48 On the seventh day 21Elishama the son of Ammihud, the chief of the people of Ephraim:
49 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
50 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
51 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a 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, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
54 On the eighth day 22Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, the chief of the people of Manasseh:
55 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
56 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
57 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
58 one male goat for a sin offering;
59 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
60 On the ninth day 23Abidan the son of Gideoni, the chief of the people of Benjamin:
61 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
62 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
63 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
64 one male goat for a sin offering;
65 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
66 On the tenth day 24Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, the chief of the people of Dan:
67 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
68 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
69 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a 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, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
72 On the eleventh day 25Pagiel the son of Ochran, the chief of the people of Asher:
73 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
74 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
75 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a 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, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran.
78 On the twelfth day 26Ahira the son of Enan, the chief of the people of Naphtali:
79 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
80 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;
81 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a 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, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
84 This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day when it was anointed, from the chiefs of Israel: twelve silver plates, twelve silver basins, twelve golden dishes,
85 each silver plate weighing 130 shekels and each basin 70, all the silver of the vessels 2,400 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary,
86 the twelve golden dishes, full of incense, weighing 10 shekels apiece according to the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the dishes being 120 shekels;
87 all the cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, twelve rams, twelve male lambs a year old, with their grain offering; and twelve male goats for a sin offering;
88 and all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace offerings twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it 27was anointed.
89 And when Moses went into the tent of meeting 28to speak with the LORD, he heard 29the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it 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 29

  • 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]
  • 8. Deuteronomy 20:5; 1 Kings 8:63; 2 Chronicles 7:5, 9; Ezra 6:16; Nehemiah 12:27
  • 9. See Exodus 6:23
  • 10. See Exodus 30:13
  • 11. Numbers 8:8; See Exodus 29:41
  • 12. Exodus 30:34, 35
  • 13. Leviticus 1:2, 3
  • 14. Leviticus 4:23, 24
  • 15. Leviticus 3:1
  • 16. Numbers 1:8
  • 17. Numbers 1:9
  • 18. Numbers 1:5
  • 19. Numbers 1:6
  • 20. Numbers 1:14; [Numbers 2:14]
  • 21. Numbers 1:10
  • 22. Numbers 1:10
  • 23. Numbers 1:11
  • 24. Numbers 1:12
  • 25. Numbers 1:13
  • 26. Numbers 1:15
  • 27. ver. 1, 10
  • 28. Numbers 12:8; See Exodus 33:9-11
  • 29. See Exodus 25:22

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams

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

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.