Numbers 7:1-8

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.

Numbers 7:1-8 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

• 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

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "stood"
• [b] Lit "mustered"
• [c] Lit "for serving"
• [d] Lit "hand"