Numbers 7

1 When Moses finished setting up the tent, he anointed it and dedicated it and all the furnishings. He also anointed and dedicated the altar and all the utensils.

2 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of the households--those tribal leaders who helped in the census--came to give their offerings.

3 They brought these gifts to the LORD: six freight wagons and twelve oxen, one wagon from every two leaders and one ox from each leader. They brought them in front of the tent.

4 The LORD said to Moses,

5 "Accept these gifts from them to use in the work done for the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites to use wherever they need these gifts for their work."

6 Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites.

7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonites for the work they had to do.

8 He gave four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarites for the work they had to do under the direction of Ithamar, son of the priest Aaron.

9 But Moses gave none of these gifts to the Kohathites, because they took care of the holy things. They had to carry the holy things on their own shoulders.

10 The leaders also brought offerings for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed. They presented their gifts in front of the altar.

11 The LORD said to Moses, "Each day a different leader will bring his gift for the dedication of the altar."

12 The one who brought his gifts on the first day was Nahshon, son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah.

13 He brought a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering.

14 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense;

15 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering;

16 a male goat as an offering for sin;

17 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Nahshon, son of Amminadab.

18 On the second day Nethanel, son of Zuar, the leader from the tribe of Issachar, brought his gifts.

19 He brought a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering.

20 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense;

21 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering;

22 a male goat as an offering for sin;

23 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Nethanel, son of Zuar.

24 On the third day the leader of the descendants of Zebulun, Eliab, son of Helon,

25 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering.

26 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense;

27 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering;

28 a male goat as an offering for sin;

29 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Eliab, son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day the leader of the descendants of Reuben, Elizur, son of Shedeur,

31 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering.

32 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense;

33 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering;

34 a male goat as an offering for sin;

35 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Elizur, son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day the leader of the descendants of Simeon, Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai,

37 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering.

38 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense;

39 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering;

40 a male goat as an offering for sin;

41 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day the leader of the descendants of Gad, Eliasaph, son of Deuel,

43 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering.

44 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense;

45 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering;

46 a male goat as an offering for sin;

47 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Eliasaph, son of Deuel.

48 On the seventh day the leader of the descendants of Ephraim, Elishama, son of Ammihud,

49 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering.

50 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense;

51 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering;

52 a male goat as an offering for sin;

53 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Elishama, son of Ammihud.

54 On the eighth day the leader of the descendants of Manasseh, Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur,

55 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering.

56 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense;

57 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering;

58 a male goat as an offering for sin;

59 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur.

60 On the ninth day the leader of the descendants of Benjamin, Abidan, son of Gideoni,

61 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering.

62 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense;

63 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering;

64 a male goat as an offering for sin;

65 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Abidan, son of Gideoni.

66 On the tenth day the leader of the descendants of Dan, Ahiezer, son of Amishaddai,

67 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering.

68 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense;

69 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering;

70 a male goat as an offering for sin;

71 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Ahiezer, son of Amishaddai.

72 On the eleventh day the leader of the descendants of Asher, Pagiel, son of Ochran,

73 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering.

74 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense;

75 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering;

76 a male goat as an offering for sin;

77 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Pagiel, son of Ochran.

78 On the twelfth day the leader of the descendants of Naphtali, Ahira, son of Enan,

79 brought his gifts: a silver plate that weighed 3¼ pounds and a silver bowl that weighed 1¾ pounds using the standard weight of the holy place. Each dish was filled with flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering.

80 He also brought a gold dish that weighed 4 ounces, filled with incense;

81 a young bull, a ram, and a one-year-old male lamb as a burnt offering;

82 a male goat as an offering for sin;

83 and two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs as a fellowship offering. These were the gifts from Ahira, son of Enan.

84 These were the gifts from the leaders of Israel for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: 12 silver plates, 12 silver bowls, and 12 gold dishes.

85 Each silver plate weighed 3¼ pounds, and each bowl weighed 1¾ pounds. Together all the silver dishes weighed 60 pounds using the standard weight of the holy place.

86 The 12 gold dishes filled with incense weighed 4 ounces each using the standard weight of the holy place. Together all the gold dishes weighed about 3 pounds.

87 The total number of animals for the burnt offerings was 12 young bulls, 12 rams, 12 one-year-old male lambs, along with their grain offerings. Twelve male goats were used as offerings for sin.

88 The total number of animals for fellowship offerings was 24 bulls, 60 rams, 60 male goats, and 60 one-year-old male lambs. These were the gifts for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.

89 Whenever Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the throne of mercy on the ark containing the words of God's promise, from between the two angels. This is how the LORD spoke with Moses.

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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.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

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.