Numbers Chapter 7

Commentary

Offerings of Dedication

1And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; 2That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered: 3And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle. 4And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 5Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service. 6And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. 7Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service: 8And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.

10And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar. 11And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.

12And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah: 13And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 14One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense: 15One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 16One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 17And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

18On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer: 19He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 20One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense: 21One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 22One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 23And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar.

24On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer: 25His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 26One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 27One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 28One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 29And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.

30On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer: 31His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 32One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 33One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 34One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 35And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.

36On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer: 37His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 38One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 39One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 40One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 41And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

42On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered: 43His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 44One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 45One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 46One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 47And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

48On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered: 49His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 50One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 51One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 52One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 53And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

54On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh: 55His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 56One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 57One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 58One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 59And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

60On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered: 61His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 62One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 63One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 64One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 65And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.

66On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered: 67His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 68One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 69One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 70One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 71And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

72On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered: 73His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 74One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 75One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 76One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 77And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.

78On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered: 79His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 80One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 81One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 82One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 83And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.

84This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold: 85Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: 86The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels. 87All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve. 88And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.

89And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Offerings of Dedication

1 It happened on the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed it and sanctified it, with all its furniture, and the altar with all its vessels, and had anointed and sanctified them; 2 that the princes of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, offered. These were the princes of the tribes. These are they who were over those who were numbered: 3 and they brought their offering before Yahweh, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for every two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they presented them before the tabernacle. 4 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the service of the Tent of Meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.” 6 Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, according to their service: 8 and he gave four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary belonged to them; they carried it on their shoulders.

10 The princes gave offerings for the dedication of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes gave their offerings before the altar. 11 Yahweh said to Moses, “They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedication of the altar.”

12 He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah, 13 and his offering was: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering; 14 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 15 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 16 one male goat for a sin offering; 17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

18 On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, gave his offering. 19 He offered for his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering; 20 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 21 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 22 one male goat for a sin offering; 23 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.

24 On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun 25 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering; 26 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 27 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 28 one male goat for a sin offering; 29 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben 31 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering; 32 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 33 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 34 one male goat for a sin offering; 35 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon 37 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering; 38 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 39 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 40 one male goat for a sin offering; 41 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day, Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad 43 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering; 44 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 45 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 46 one male goat for a sin offering; 47 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

48 On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim 49 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering; 50 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 51 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 52 one male goat for a sin offering; 53 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

54 On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh 55 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering; 56 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 57 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 58 one male goat for a sin offering; 59 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

60 On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin 61 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering; 62 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 63 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 64 one male goat for a sin offering; 65 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.

66 On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan 67 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering; 68 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 69 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 70 one male goat for a sin offering; 71 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

72 On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, prince of the children of Asher 73 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering; 74 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense; 75 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 76 one male goat for a sin offering; 77 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran.

78 On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali 79 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering; 80 one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; 81 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 82 one male goat for a sin offering; 83 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.

84 This was the dedication of the altar, on the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, twelve golden ladles; 85 each silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels two thousand four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; 86 the twelve golden ladles, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the ladles weighed one hundred twenty shekels; 87 all the cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs a year old twelve, and their meal offering; and the male goats for a sin offering twelve; 88 and all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace offerings twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after it was anointed.

89 When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Yahweh, he heard his voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim: and he spoke to him.

Offerings of Dedication

1 On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings, along with the altar and all its utensils. 2 And the leaders of Israel, the heads of their families, presented an offering. These men were the tribal leaders who had supervised the registration. 3 They brought as their offering before the LORD six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two leaders—and presented them before the tabernacle.

4 And the LORD said to Moses, 5 “Accept these gifts from them, that they may be used in the work of the Tent of Meeting. And give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.”

6 So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave the Gershonites two carts and four oxen, as their service required, 8 and he gave the Merarites four carts and eight oxen, as their service required, all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 9 But he did not give any to the Kohathites, since they were to carry on their shoulders the holy objects for which they were responsible.

10 When the altar was anointed, the leaders approached with their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the altar. 11 And the LORD said to Moses, “Each day one leader is to present his offering for the dedication of the altar.”

12 On the first day Nahshon son of Amminadab from the tribe of Judah drew near with his offering. 13 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, a and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, b both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 14 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, c filled with incense; 15 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 16 one male goat for a sin offering; 17 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, drew near. 19 The offering he presented was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 20 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 21 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 22 one male goat for a sin offering; 23 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

24 On the third day Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the Zebulunites, drew near. 25 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 26 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 27 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 28 one male goat for a sin offering; 29 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the Reubenites, drew near. 31 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 32 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 33 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 34 one male goat for a sin offering; 35 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the Simeonites, drew near. 37 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 38 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 39 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 40 one male goat for a sin offering; 41 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the Gadites, drew near. 43 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 44 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 45 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 46 one male goat for a sin offering; 47 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the Ephraimites, drew near. 49 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 50 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 51 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 52 one male goat for a sin offering; 53 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.

54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the Manassites, drew near. 55 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 56 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 57 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 58 one male goat for a sin offering; 59 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the Benjamites, drew near. 61 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 62 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 63 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 64 one male goat for a sin offering; 65 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the Danites, drew near. 67 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 68 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 69 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 70 one male goat for a sin offering; 71 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, the leader of the Asherites, drew near. 73 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 74 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 75 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 76 one male goat for a sin offering; 77 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran.

78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the Naphtalites, drew near. 79 His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 80 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 81 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 82 one male goat for a sin offering; 83 and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

84 So these were the offerings from the leaders of Israel for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold dishes.

85 Each silver platter weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each silver bowl seventy shekels. The total weight of the silver articles was two thousand four hundred shekels, d according to the sanctuary shekel.

86 The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. The total weight of the gold dishes was a hundred and twenty shekels. e

87 All the livestock for the burnt offering totaled twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve male lambs a year old—together with their grain offerings—and twelve male goats for the sin offering.

88 All the livestock sacrificed for the peace offering totaled twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty male lambs a year old. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.

89 When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the mercy seat f on the ark of the Testimony. g Thus the LORD spoke to him.

 

Footnotes:

13 a 130 shekels  is approximately 3.3 pounds or 1.48 kilograms; here and throughout this chapter.
13 b 70 shekels  is approximately 1.76 pounds or 797.8 grams; here and throughout this chapter.
14 c 10 shekels  is approximately 4 ounces or 114 grams; here and throughout this chapter.
85 d 2,400 shekels  is approximately 60.3 pounds or 27.4 kilograms.
86 e 120 shekels  is approximately 3 pounds or 1.4 kilograms.
89 f Or atonement cover
89 g That is, the ark of the covenant

Offerings of Dedication

1And it cometh to pass on the day of Moses' finishing setting up the tabernacle, that he anointeth it, and sanctifieth it, and all its vessels, and the altar, and all its vessels, and he anointeth them, and sanctifieth them, 2and the princes of Israel (heads of the house of their fathers, they are princes of the tribes, they who are standing over those numbered) bring near, 3yea, they bring their offering before Jehovah, six waggons covered, and twelve oxen -- a waggon for two of the princes, and an ox for one -- and they bring them near before the tabernacle. 4And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, 5'Receive from them, and they have been to do the service of the tent of meeting, and thou hast given them unto the Levites, each according to his service.' 6And Moses taketh the waggons and the oxen, and giveth them unto the Levites. 7The two of the waggons and the four of the oxen he hath given to the sons of Gershon, according to their service, 8and the four of the waggons and the eight of the oxen he hath given to the sons of Merari, according to their service, by the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest; 9and to the sons of Kohath he hath not given, for the service of the sanctuary is on them: on the shoulder they bear.

10And the princes bring near the dedication of the altar in the day of its being anointed; yea, the princes bring near their offering before the altar. 11And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'One prince a day -- one prince a day -- do they bring near their offering for the dedication of the altar.'

12And he who is bringing near on the first day his offering is Nahshon son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah. 13And his offering is one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty shekels; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; 14one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of perfume; 15one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; 16one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 17and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this is the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

18On the second day hath Nethaneel son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, brought near. 19He hath brought near his offering, one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty shekels; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; 20one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of perfume; 21one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; 22one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 23and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this is the offering of Nethaneel son of Zuar.

24On the third day, the prince of the sons of Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon; -- 25his offering is one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty shekels; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; 26one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of perfume; 27one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; 28one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 29and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this is the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

30On the fourth day, Elizur, son of Shedeur, prince of the sons of Reuben; -- 31his offering is one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty shekels; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; 32one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of perfume; 33one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; 34one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 35and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this is the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

36On the fifth day, the prince of the sons of Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai; -- 37his offering is one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty shekels; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; 38one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of perfume; 39one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; 40one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 41and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this is the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

42On the sixth day, the prince of the sons of Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel; -- 43his offering is one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty shekels; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; 44one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of perfume; 45one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; 46one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 47and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this is the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

48On the seventh day, the prince of the sons of Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; -- 49his offering is one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty shekels; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; 50one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of perfume; 51one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; 52one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 53and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this is the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.

54On the eighth day, the prince of the sons of Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur; -- 55his offering is one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty shekels; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; 56one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of perfume; 57one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; 58one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 59and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this is the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

60On the ninth day, the prince of the sons of Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni; -- 61his offering is one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty shekels; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; 62one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of perfume; 63one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; 64one kid of the goats for a sin-offering: 65and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this is the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

66On the tenth day, the prince of the sons of Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai; -- 67his offering is one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty shekels; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; 68one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of perfume; 69one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; 70one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 71and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this is the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

72On the eleventh day, the prince of the sons of Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran; -- 73his offering is one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty shekels; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; 74one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of perfume; 75one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; 76one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 77and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this is the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran.

78On the twelfth day, the prince of the sons of Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan; -- 79his offering is one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty shekels; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; 80one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of perfume; 81one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; 82one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 83and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this is the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

84This is the dedication of the altar, in the day of its being anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve silver dishes, twelve silver bowls, twelve golden spoons; 85a hundred and thirty shekels each silver dish, and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels is two thousand and four hundred shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary. 86Golden spoons are twelve, full of perfume; ten shekels each spoon, by the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the spoons is a hundred and twenty shekels; 87all the oxen for burnt-offering are twelve bullocks, rams twelve, lambs, sons of a year twelve, and their present; and kids of the goats twelve, for sin-offering; 88and all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace-offerings are twenty and four bullocks, rams sixty, he-goats sixty, lambs, sons of a year, sixty; this is the dedication of the altar, in the day of its being anointed.

89And in the going in of Moses unto the tent of meeting to speak with Him -- he doth even hear the voice speaking unto him from off the mercy-seat which is upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubs; and He speaketh unto him.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Numbers 7?
2Introduction to Numbers 7
3Context of Numbers 7
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
6Numbers 7 Unique Insights
7Numbers 7 Connections to Yeshua
8Numbers 7 Scriptural Echoes
9Numbers 7 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Numbers 7?

Introduction to Numbers 7

Numbers 7 presents one of the longest chapters in the Torah, detailing the dedication offerings brought by the twelve tribal leaders of Israel for the inauguration of the Tabernacle. This chapter serves as a powerful testament to the unity and diversity within God’s people, as each tribe brings identical offerings yet receives individual recognition. The repetitive nature of the text, far from being monotonous, emphasizes the equal value God places on each tribe’s contribution and the meticulous care with which He records their acts of worship.

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The chapter’s significance lies not just in its historical record but in its profound demonstration of God’s attention to detail and His delight in receiving worship from His people. Each tribal leader’s offering is recorded with exactly the same detail, showing that God values every act of devotion equally, regardless of its order or timing.

Context of Numbers 7

This chapter is strategically positioned after the completion and consecration of the Tabernacle in Exodus 40 and the organization of the tribes around it in Numbers 1-6. The timing is crucial – these offerings were brought on the day Moses completed setting up the Tabernacle (Numbers 7:1), marking a pivotal moment in Israel’s journey from a newly freed slave nation to an organized people prepared for divine service.

Within the broader narrative of Numbers, this chapter serves as a bridge between the preparation phase (Numbers 1-6) and the beginning of Israel’s journey toward the Promised Land. It demonstrates the willingness of the people to contribute to the worship of יהוה and their recognition of the centrality of the Tabernacle in their national life.

The chapter also fits into the larger biblical narrative of God dwelling among His people. From the Garden of Eden to the Tabernacle, and ultimately to the incarnation of Yeshua and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers, this chapter represents a crucial stage in God’s progressive revelation of His desire to dwell among His people.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • נָשִׂיא (nasi) – “prince” or “leader”: This term, used for the tribal leaders, carries connotations of being “lifted up” or “exalted.” Unlike modern concepts of inherited nobility, these leaders were chosen based on their ability to represent and serve their tribes, foreshadowing the servant leadership model that Yeshua would later exemplify.
  • קָרְבָּן (korban) – “offering”: Derived from the root meaning “to draw near,” this word embodies the primary purpose of sacrifices – not merely to appease God but to draw closer to Him. Each tribal offering was a means of establishing intimate communion with יהוה.
  • קְעָרָה (ke’arah) – “silver dish”: The root relates to “deepening” or “hollowing out,” symbolizing the vessels’ capacity to be filled. This imagery speaks to the spiritual principle of emptying oneself to be filled with God’s presence.
  • מִזְרָק (mizrak) – “sprinkling basin”: Used for handling sacrificial blood, this vessel’s name comes from the root “to scatter” or “sprinkle,” pointing to the purification aspects of the sacrificial system and ultimately to the cleansing power of Messiah’s blood.
  • כַּף (kaph) – “palm” or “spoon”: Literally meaning “palm of the hand,” this golden vessel used for incense suggests intimacy in worship, as if presenting offerings directly from one’s hand to God.
  • סֹלֶת (solet) – “fine flour”: This highest quality wheat flour, mixed with oil for the grain offering, represents the best of human labor offered to God and prefigures the pure and spotless nature of the Messiah.
  • קְטֹרֶת (ketoret) – “incense”: The root means “to smoke” or “to bond,” indicating how prayer and worship rise to heaven and create a bond between God and His people.
  • פַּר (par) – “young bull”: As the largest sacrifice, it represented the greatest expense and therefore the deepest commitment to God’s service.
  • חֲנֻכַּת (chanukat) – “dedication”: Sharing the same root as Hanukkah, this term emphasizes new beginnings and consecration to divine service.

Compare & Contrast

  • The repetition of identical offerings might seem redundant to modern readers, but the text deliberately avoids shortening the account (e.g., “and the other tribes brought the same”). This literary choice emphasizes that God values each act of worship individually and personally, contrasting with the ancient Near Eastern practice of summarizing multiple similar offerings.
  • The choice of silver and gold vessels carries symbolic weight – silver (כֶּסֶף, kesef) shares its root with “longing” (כִּסּוּפִים, kisufim), while gold (זָהָב, zahav) relates to radiance and glory. These metals weren’t chosen merely for their monetary value but for their spiritual significance.
  • The specified weight of each vessel (130 and 70 shekels) has numerical significance in Hebrew thought. 130 corresponds to the gematria of “ladder” (סֻלָּם, sulam), suggesting ascending levels of holiness, while 70 represents the nations of the world, indicating Israel’s intercessory role.
  • The order of tribal offerings follows the camp arrangement around the Tabernacle rather than birth order, emphasizing function over natural precedence. This contrasts with earlier biblical genealogies that typically follow birth order.
  • The three types of animals offered (bull, ram, lamb) represent different aspects of service – strength, leadership, and submission respectively. This triad appears throughout Scripture in various contexts, always maintaining these symbolic associations.
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Numbers 7 Unique Insights

The Midrash Rabbah notes that the date of the Tabernacle’s completion coincided with the anniversary of Isaac’s birth, suggesting a profound connection between the joy of new life and the establishment of divine worship. This timing wasn’t coincidental but demonstrated God’s pattern of bringing forth new beginnings from moments of dedication.

The total value of all the offerings was enormous, indicating the tribes’ wholehearted commitment to worship. The Talmud (Bamidbar Rabbah 12:15) calculates that the combined weight of the silver vessels alone was approximately 2,400 shekels, representing both the tribes’ material wealth from Egypt and their willingness to consecrate it to divine service.

Early church father Origen saw in the twelve days of offerings a prefiguring of the apostolic ministry, where each apostle would bring the same gospel message to different peoples, yet each presentation would be uniquely valuable to God. This interpretation bridges the gap between the uniformity of truth and the diversity of its expression.

The chapter concludes with Moses hearing God’s voice from between the cherubim (Numbers 7:89), suggesting that genuine worship creates an environment for divine communication. This detail, often overlooked, provides a powerful theological principle: corporate worship facilitates personal revelation.

Numbers 7 Connections to Yeshua

The elaborate dedication offerings point forward to the ultimate dedication offering – Yeshua Himself. Just as each tribe brought identical offerings that were individually valued by God, so too does each believer’s acceptance of Messiah’s sacrifice receive individual attention from the Father.

The various elements of the offerings foreshadow aspects of Messiah’s ministry: the silver speaks of redemption, the gold of divine glory, the incense of intercessory prayer, and the animals of different aspects of His character – the strength of the bull, the leadership of the ram, and the submission of the lamb. As Hebrews 10:1 states, the law had “a shadow of good things to come.”

The presence of God speaking from between the cherubim prefigures how Yeshua would become the ultimate meeting place between God and humanity. Just as Moses heard God’s voice after the dedication offerings were complete, we now have direct access to the Father through the completed work of Messiah.

Numbers 7 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with 1 Kings 8, where Solomon’s dedication of the Temple mirrors the Tabernacle dedication. Both occasions feature extensive offerings and God’s presence descending to dwell among His people.

The theme of leadership offerings finds parallel in Nehemiah 7, where the leaders again contribute to the restoration of worship after the exile. This pattern demonstrates God’s consistent method of using leadership to inspire corporate worship.

The careful recording of each tribe’s identical offering recalls Revelation 7, where 12,000 from each tribe are sealed, showing God’s continued attention to tribal identity even in eschatological contexts.

Numbers 7 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to consider our own dedication to worship. Just as each tribe brought their best offerings, we too are called to bring our best to God, knowing He values each individual’s worship uniquely. The repetitive nature of the text reminds us that God never tires of receiving our devotion, even when it looks similar to others’.

The leadership’s initiative in bringing offerings teaches us about the responsibility of those in authority to model generosity and worship. Their actions inspired the entire nation, just as our devotion can inspire others to deeper commitment to God.

The extensive detail given to each offering encourages us to be thorough and excellent in our service to God, knowing that He notices and values every aspect of our worship. Nothing offered in genuine devotion is too small or insignificant for His attention.

Did You Know

  • The combined weight of silver vessels brought by all tribes was equivalent to approximately 60 pounds, demonstrating the massive scale of these dedication offerings.
  • The twelve days of offerings would have spanned two Sabbaths, indicating that dedication ceremonies could override normal Sabbath restrictions.
  • The specific animals mentioned in the offerings are all mentioned in Abraham’s covenant ceremony in Genesis 15, creating a link between the Tabernacle service and the Abrahamic covenant.
  • The total number of animals offered (252) corresponds to the numerical value of “Let them make Me a sanctuary” in Hebrew, suggesting divine design in even the mathematical details.
  • The order of tribal offerings matches exactly with the arrangement of camps around the Tabernacle, beginning with Judah in the east.
  • The sprinkling basins (mizrak) mentioned here were designed specifically to catch and distribute sacrificial blood, with special channels that allowed for precise application according to ritual requirements.
  • Archaeological discoveries from this period have found similar vessels to those described in the chapter, confirming the historical accuracy of the descriptions.
  • The incense offering mentioned contained exactly the same weight as the daily Temple incense offering would later require, establishing a pattern that would continue for centuries.
  • This chapter contains the first instance of a tribal leader being called “prince” (nasi) in the Bible, a title that would later be used for the Sanhedrin’s president.
  • The total value of the offerings would have been equivalent to several million dollars in today’s currency, showing the extraordinary commitment of the people to the Tabernacle’s establishment.

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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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