Numbers 7:2-12

2 the leaders of Isra'el, who were heads of their father's clans, made an offering. These were the tribal leaders in charge of those counted in the census.

3 They brought their offering before ADONAI, six covered wagons and twelve oxen -a wagon for every two leaders and for each an ox -and presented them in front of the tabernacle.

4 ADONAI said to Moshe,

5 "Receive these from them; they are to be used for the service in the tent of meeting. Give them to the L'vi'im, to each as needed for his duties."

6 So Moshe took the wagons and oxen and gave them to the L'vi'im.

7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the descendants of Gershon, in keeping with the needs of their duties.

8 Four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the descendants of M'rari, in keeping with the needs of their duties, directed by Itamar the son of Aharon the cohen.

9 But to the descendants of K'hat he gave none, because their duties involved the holy articles, which they carried on their own shoulders.

10 The leaders brought the offering for dedicating the altar on the day it was anointed. The leaders brought their offering before the altar,

11 and ADONAI said to Moshe, "They are to present their offerings to dedicate the altar, each leader on his own day."

12 Nachshon the son of 'Amminadav, from the tribe of Y'hudah, presented his offering on the first day.

Numbers 7:2-12 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.