Numbers 7

Listen to Numbers 7
1 On the day Moses set up the Tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart as holy. He also anointed and set apart all its furnishings and the altar with its utensils.
2 Then the leaders of Israel—the tribal leaders who had registered the troops—came and brought their offerings.
3 Together they brought six large wagons and twelve oxen. There was a wagon for every two leaders and an ox for each leader. They presented these to the LORD in front of the Tabernacle.
4 Then the LORD said to Moses,
5 “Receive their gifts, and use these oxen and wagons for transporting the Tabernacle. Distribute them among the Levites according to the work they have to do.”
6 So Moses took the wagons and oxen and presented them to the Levites.
7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonite division for their work,
8 and he gave four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarite division for their work. All their work was done under the leadership of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
9 But he gave none of the wagons or oxen to the Kohathite division, since they were required to carry the sacred objects of the Tabernacle on their shoulders.
10 The leaders also presented dedication gifts for the altar at the time it was anointed. They each placed their gifts before the altar.
11 The LORD said to Moses, “Let one leader bring his gift each day for the dedication of the altar.”
12 On the first day Nahshon son of Amminadab, leader of the tribe of Judah, presented his offering.
13 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
14 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
15 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
16 and a male goat for a sin offering.
17 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Nahshon son of Amminadab.
18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of the tribe of Issachar, presented his offering.
19 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
20 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
21 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
22 and a male goat for a sin offering.
23 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Nethanel son of Zuar.
24 On the third day Eliab son of Helon, leader of the tribe of Zebulun, presented his offering.
25 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
26 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
27 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
28 and a male goat for a sin offering.
29 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Eliab son of Helon.
30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the tribe of Reuben, presented his offering.
31 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
32 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
33 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
34 and a male goat for a sin offering.
35 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Elizur son of Shedeur.
36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the tribe of Simeon, presented his offering.
37 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
38 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
39 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
40 and a male goat for a sin offering.
41 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the tribe of Gad, presented his offering.
43 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
44 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
45 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
46 and a male goat for a sin offering.
47 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Eliasaph son of Deuel.
48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the tribe of Ephraim, presented his offering.
49 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
50 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
51 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
52 and a male goat for a sin offering.
53 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Elishama son of Ammihud.
54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the tribe of Manasseh, presented his offering.
55 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
56 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
57 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
58 and a male goat for a sin offering.
59 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, leader of the tribe of Benjamin, presented his offering.
61 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
62 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
63 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
64 and a male goat for a sin offering.
65 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Abidan son of Gideoni.
66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, leader of the tribe of Dan, presented his offering.
67 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
68 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
69 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
70 and a male goat for a sin offering.
71 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, leader of the tribe of Asher, presented his offering.
73 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
74 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
75 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
76 and a male goat for a sin offering.
77 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Pagiel son of Ocran.
78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, leader of the tribe of Naphtali, presented his offering.
79 His offering consisted of a silver platter weighing 3 pounds and a silver basin weighing 1 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). These were both filled with grain offerings of choice flour moistened with olive oil.
80 He also brought a gold container weighing four ounces, which was filled with incense.
81 He brought a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering,
82 and a male goat for a sin offering.
83 For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Ahira son of Enan.
84 So this was the dedication offering brought by the leaders of Israel at the time the altar was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver basins, and twelve gold incense containers.
85 Each silver platter weighed 3 pounds, and each silver basin weighed 1 pounds. The total weight of the silver was 60 pounds (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel).
86 Each of the twelve gold containers that was filled with incense weighed four ounces (as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel). The total weight of the gold was three pounds.
87 Twelve young bulls, twelve rams, and twelve one-year-old male lambs were donated for the burnt offerings, along with their prescribed grain offerings. Twelve male goats were brought for the sin offerings.
88 Twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty one-year-old male lambs were donated for the peace offerings. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.
89 Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. The LORD spoke to him from there.

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 6

  • [a]. Hebrew the Tent of Meeting; also in 7:89 .
  • [b]. Hebrew silver platter weighing 130 [shekels] [1.5 kilograms] and a silver basin weighing 70 shekels [800 grams]; also in 7:19, 25, 31, 37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 67, 73, 79, 85 .
  • [c]. Hebrew 10 [shekels] [114 grams]; also in 7:20, 26, 32, 38, 44, 50, 56, 62, 68, 74, 80, 86 .
  • [d]. Hebrew 2,400 [shekels] [27.6 kilograms].
  • [e]. Hebrew 120 [shekels] [1.4 kilograms].
  • [f]. Or Ark of the Testimony.

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

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.