Numbers 7:8

8 He gave four other wains and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, by their offices and religion (for their duties and their service), under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron, the priest.

Numbers 7:8 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 7:8

And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari,
&c.] All the remaining wagons and oxen, which were double the number given to the Gershonites:

according unto their service;
being much heavier than theirs, having all the boards, pillars, sockets, pins; cords to bear and carry: thus Moses was directed of God wisely to dispose of those carriages, in proportion to the services each was employed in; and in a spiritual way, as the day, duty, and service of the people of God be, he proportions grace and strength to them to answer thereunto:

under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest;
under whose care, inspection, and direction, were both the Gershonites and Merarites, ( Numbers 4:28 Numbers 4:33 ) ; and by whom were delivered, according to the instruction of Moses, the several wagons and oxen, to them.

Numbers 7:8 In-Context

6 And so when Moses had taken the wains, and the oxen, he betook them to the deacons. (And so when Moses had received the wagons, and the oxen, he gave them to the Levites.)

7 He gave two wains and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, after that (that) they had need (of).

8 He gave four other wains and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, by their offices and religion (for their duties and their service), under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron, the priest.

9 Forsooth he gave not wains and oxen to the sons of Kohath, for they serve in the saintuary, and bear the charges with their own shoulders. (But he did not give any wagons or oxen to the sons of Kohath, for they serve in the sanctuary, and carry the loads with their own shoulders.)

10 Therefore the dukes offered, in the hallowing of the altar, in the day in which it was anointed, their offering to the Lord, before the altar. (And so the leaders offered, for the dedication of the altar, on the day in which it was anointed, their offering to the Lord, before the altar.)