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Numbers 7
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No wheels for the Kohathites (Numbers 7:1-11)
1 Now it came to pass, when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, that he anointed it and consecrated it and all its furnishings, and the altar and all its utensils; so he anointed them and consecrated them.
2 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, who were the leaders of the tribes and over those who were numbered, made an offering.
3 And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered carts and twelve oxen, a cart for every two of the leaders, and for each one an ox; and they presented them before the tabernacle.
4 ¶ Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the work of the tabernacle of meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.”
6 So Moses took the carts and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites.
7 Two carts and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service;
8 and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders.
10 ¶ Now the leaders offered the dedication offering for the altar when it was anointed; so the leaders offered their offering before the altar.
11 For the LORD said to Moses, “They shall offer their offering, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.”
Let's get started by putting this chapter into perspective with regard to the correct time frame. You will recall back in Exodus 40 (see notes) that Moses took delivery of the Tabernacle, erected it and subsequently God filled it with his presence. In this chapter we find the dedication of that Tabernacle that immediately followed. We see them rolling into camp in wagons. Twelve princes in six wagons; they carpooled - two to a wagon. The wagons and sacrifices were turned over to the priests for service. Of the Levites, the Gershonites received two of the wagons, the Merarites received the other four wagons. The Kohathites got no wagons. Why? It was because their responsibilities in moving the Tabernacle consisted of carrying the sacred vessels of the Tabernacle; these vessels were transported on foot, not wagons.
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah celebrates the purification and rededication of the Jerusalem Temple by the Maccabees in the second century B.C. This is an eight-day celebration, and portions of the daily readings are taken from Numbers 7 because this chapter contains the record of the original dedication of the tabernacle.
The presentation of the gifts to the priests (Numbers 7:12-83)
First of all, let's recall the listing of the heads of the Tribes of Israel at the census that began in Numbers 1 (see notes). You will notice that the order in which the tribes are listed in Numbers 1 (see notes) is not the same order in which they presented their offerings to the priests. Any significance? Upon closer inspection, you will recognize that they did so in the order in which they were positioned around the Tabernacle in their groups of three. (See the illustration of that arrangement) They are listed in that order going clockwise around the tabernacle, beginning on the east side.
Each of the princes of the 12 Tribes of Israel brought the same gifts. Could this be the origin of the classic 12-place setting sold in stores everywhere to this day? Maybe not. Every group of 6 verses from 12 to 83 provides the exact same description of items presented as follows:
Judah - DAY 1 - Numbers 7:12-17
12 ¶ And the one who offered his offering on the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah.
13 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
14 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
15 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
16 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
Issachar - DAY 2 - Numbers 7:18-23
18 ¶ On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, presented an offering.
19 For his offering he offered one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
20 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
21 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
22 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
23 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.
Zebulon - DAY 3 - Numbers 7:24-29
24 ¶ On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, leader of the children of Zebulun, presented an offering.
25 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
26 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
27 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
28 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
29 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
Reuben - DAY 4 - Numbers 7:30-35
30 ¶ On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, leader of the children of Reuben, presented an offering.
31 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
32 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
33 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
34 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
35 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Simeon - DAY 5 - Numbers 7:36-41
36 ¶ On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, leader of the children of Simeon, presented an offering.
37 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
38 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
39 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
40 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
41 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
Gad - DAY 6 - Numbers 7:42-47
42 ¶ On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, leader of the children of Gad, presented an offering.
43 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
44 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
45 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
46 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
47 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Ephraim - DAY 7 - Numbers 7:48-53
48 ¶ On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, leader of the children of Ephraim, presented an offering.
49 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
50 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
51 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
52 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
53 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
Manasseh - DAY 8 - Numbers 7:54-59
54 ¶ On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, leader of the children of Manasseh, presented an offering.
55 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
56 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
57 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
58 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
59 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Benjamin - DAY 9 - Numbers 7:60-65
60 ¶ On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, leader of the children of Benjamin, presented an offering.
61 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
62 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
63 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
64 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
65 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Dan - DAY 10 - Numbers 7:66-71
66 ¶ On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, leader of the children of Dan, presented an offering.
67 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
68 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
69 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
70 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
71 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
Asher - DAY 11 - Numbers 7:72-77
72 ¶ On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, leader of the children of Asher, presented an offering.
73 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
74 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
75 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
76 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
77 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.
Naphtali - DAY 12 - Numbers 7:78-83
78 ¶ On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, leader of the children of Naphtali, presented an offering.
79 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
80 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
81 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
82 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
83 and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
A recap of the 12-day event (Numbers 7:84-89)
84 ¶ This was the dedication offering for the altar from the leaders of Israel, when it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold pans.
85 Each silver platter weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and each bowl seventy shekels. All the silver of the vessels weighed two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
86 The twelve gold pans full of incense weighed ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the pans weighed one hundred and twenty shekels.
87 All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve young bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs in their first year twelve, with their grain offering, and the kids of the goats as a sin offering twelve.
88 And all the oxen for the sacrifice of peace offerings were twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, and the lambs in their first year sixty. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.
89 ¶ Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him.
The offerings were spread out over 12 days. This would become a memorable event for Israel - the days when the Tabernacle was consecrated. The recap and grand totals of the offerings are given in verses 84-88. God begins speaking with Moses on this final dedication day in verse 89.