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On the day that Moses had fully completed setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it and all its furniture, and the altar and all its utensils, and had anointed and set them apart for holy use,

The princes or leaders of Israel, heads of their fathers’ houses, made offerings. These were the leaders of the tribes and were over those who were numbered.

And they brought their offering before the Lord, six covered wagons and twelve oxen; a wagon for each two of the princes or leaders and an ox for each one; and they brought them before the tabernacle.

Then the Lord said to Moses,

Accept the things from them, that they may be used in doing the service of the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.

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

Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service;

And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the supervision of Ithamar son of Aaron, the [high] priest.

But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were assigned the care of the sanctuary and the holy things which had to be carried on their shoulders.

10 And the princes or leaders offered sacrifices for the dedication of the altar [of burnt offering] on the day that it was anointed; and they offered their sacrifice before the altar.

11 And the Lord said to Moses, They shall offer their offerings, each prince or leader on his day, for the dedication of the altar.

12 He who offered his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah.

13 And his offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering;

14 One golden bowl 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 [a]for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

18 The second day Nethanel son of Zuar, leader [of the tribe] of Issachar, offered.

19 He gave for his offering one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering;

20 One golden bowl 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 oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

24 The third day Eliab son of Helon, leader of the sons of Zebulun, offered.

25 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering;

26 One golden bowl 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 oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

30 The fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the sons of Reuben, offered.

31 His offering was one silver platter of the weight of 130 shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering;

32 One golden bowl 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 oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

36 The fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the sons of Simeon, offered.

37 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering;

38 One golden bowl 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 oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

42 The sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the sons of Gad, offered.

43 His offering was one silver platter of the weight of 130 shekels, a silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering;

44 One golden bowl 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 oxen, five rams, five male goats, [and] five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

48 The seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the sons of Ephraim, offered.

49 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering;

50 One golden bowl 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 oxen, five rams, five male goats, [and] five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.

54 The eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the sons of Manasseh, offered.

55 His offering was one silver platter of the weight of 130 shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering;

56 One golden bowl 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 oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

60 The ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, prince or leader of the sons of Benjamin, offered.

61 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering;

62 One golden bowl 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 oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

66 The tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, leader of the sons of Dan, offered.

67 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering;

68 One golden bowl 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 oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

72 The eleventh day Pagiel son of Ochran, leader of the sons of Asher, offered.

73 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering;

74 One golden bowl 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 oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ochran.

78 The twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, leader of the sons of Naphtali, offered.

79 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was 130 shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering;

80 One golden bowl 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 oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

84 This was the dedication offering for the altar [of burnt offering] from the leaders of Israel on the day when it was anointed: twelve platters of silver, twelve silver basins, twelve golden bowls;

85 Each platter of silver weighing 130 shekels, each basin seventy; all the silver vessels weighed 2,400 shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary.

86 The twelve golden bowls full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the bowls being 120 shekels.

87 All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs a year old twelve, together with their cereal offering; and the male goats for a sin offering twelve.

88 And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication of the altar [of burnt offering] after it was anointed.

89 And when Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was upon the ark of the Testimony from between the two cherubim; and He spoke to [Moses].

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 7:17 Verses 12 to 17 give the detailed description of one tribe leader’s offering. Then, instead of saying that the gifts of the other tribe leaders were exactly like this one and naming the leaders, the record goes on for seventy verses repeating what has already been said eleven more times! Why? These things “were written for our learning” (Rom. 15:4 kjv). Let us seek the answer. Other commentators give Matthew Henry credit for giving the correct view. He says that both in dictating that each tribal leader have a separate day for his gift and in giving the reports equal space, regardless of the contrast in the tribe’s strength and rank in the camp, God had a definite purpose: “that an equal honor might thereby be put on each several tribe... Thus it was intimated that all the tribes of Israel had an equal share in the altar and an equal share in the sacrifices that were offered upon it. Though one tribe was posted more honorably in the camp than another, yet they and their services were all alike acceptable to God... Rich and poor meet together before God... He was letting us know that what is given is lent to the Lord, and He carefully records it, with everyone’s name prefixed to his gift, because what is so given as a labor of love (Heb. 6:10 kjv) He will repay. Christ took particular notice of what was cast into the treasury (Mark 12:41)” (Matthew Henry, A Commentary).

Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle

When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle,(A) he anointed(B) and consecrated it and all its furnishings.(C) He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils.(D) Then the leaders of Israel,(E) the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted,(F) made offerings. They brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered carts(G) and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.

The Lord said to Moses, “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man’s work requires.”

So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites,(H) as their work required, and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites,(I) as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites,(J) because they were to carry on their shoulders(K) the holy things, for which they were responsible.

10 When the altar was anointed,(L) the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication(M) and presented them before the altar. 11 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar.”

12 The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon(N) son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.

13 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels[a] and one silver sprinkling bowl(O) weighing seventy shekels,[b](P) both according to the sanctuary shekel,(Q) each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;(R) 14 one gold dish(S) weighing ten shekels,[c](T) filled with incense;(U) 15 one young bull,(V) one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;(W) 16 one male goat for a sin offering[d];(X) 17 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering.(Y) This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.(Z)

18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar,(AA) the leader of Issachar, brought his offering.

19 The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 20 one gold dish(AB) 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 two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

24 On the third day, Eliab son of Helon,(AC) the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering.

25 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as 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 two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur,(AD) the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering.

31 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as 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 two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,(AE) the leader of the people of Simeon, brought his offering.

37 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as 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 two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel,(AF) the leader of the people of Gad, brought his offering.

43 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as 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 two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud,(AG) the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering.

49 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as 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 two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.(AH)

54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,(AI) the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering.

55 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as 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 two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni,(AJ) the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering.

61 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as 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 two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai,(AK) the leader of the people of Dan, brought his offering.

67 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as 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 two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Okran,(AL) the leader of the people of Asher, brought his offering.

73 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as 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 two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Okran.

78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan,(AM) the leader of the people of Naphtali, brought his offering.

79 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as 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 two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

84 These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed:(AN) twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls(AO) and twelve gold dishes.(AP) 85 Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels,[e] according to the sanctuary shekel.(AQ) 86 The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel.(AR) Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels.[f] 87 The total number of animals for the burnt offering(AS) came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering.(AT) Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering.(AU) 88 The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering(AV) came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs(AW) a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.(AX)

89 When Moses entered the tent of meeting(AY) to speak with the Lord,(AZ) he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover(BA) on the ark of the covenant law.(BB) In this way the Lord spoke to him.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 7:13 That is, about 3 1/4 pounds or about 1.5 kilograms; also elsewhere in this chapter
  2. Numbers 7:13 That is, about 1 3/4 pounds or about 800 grams; also elsewhere in this chapter
  3. Numbers 7:14 That is, about 4 ounces or about 115 grams; also elsewhere in this chapter
  4. Numbers 7:16 Or purification offering; also elsewhere in this chapter
  5. Numbers 7:85 That is, about 60 pounds or about 28 kilograms
  6. Numbers 7:86 That is, about 3 pounds or about 1.4 kilograms