INTRODUCTION TO Numbers 7 This chapter gives an account of the presents brought, by the princes of the twelve tribes at the setting up of the tabernacle, for the use of it, Numbers 7:1; and at the dedication of the altar, and the service of that, Numbers 7:10; first of the prince of the tribe of Judah, Numbers 7:12; then of the prince of Issachar,...
And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle,.... Not on the very exact day on which it was first reared up, for that was on the first day of the first month of the second year from the coming up of Israel out of Egypt, Exodus 40:17; whereas the following offerings of the princes were not offered, and many other things...
God having set up house (as it were) in the midst of the camp of Israel, the princes of Israel here come a visiting with their presents, as tenants to their landlord, in the name of their respective tribes. I. They brought presents, 1. Upon the dedication of the tabernacle, for the service of that, ver. 1-9. 2. Upon the dedication of the altar,...
That the princes of Israel,.... The princes of the twelve tribes of Israel: heads of the house of their fathers; of the each of the houses and families the tribes were divided into, and took their name from each of their ancestors, as is next explained: who were princes of the tribes; the twelve tribes, as before observed, Numbers 1:4; and were...
And they brought their offering before the Lord,.... Before the tabernacle, as it is afterwards explained, where he had now taken up his habitation: six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; according to the number of the twelve tribes, of which they were princes, two oxen for each wagon, which were to carry the tabernacle, and its vessels, from place...
Take [it] of them,.... The present of the wagons and oxen, by which it appears that this freewill offering of the princes was according to his mind and will, and what they were influenced and guided to by his Spirit, and was well pleasing in his sight, and acceptable to him: that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation;...
And Moses took the wagons and the oxen,.... Of the princes, as he was directed: and gave them unto the Levites; the Gershonites and Merarites; for, as for the Kohathites, they had no part of them, for a reason after given, Numbers 7:9.
Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon,.... The eldest son of Levi: according to their service; which was to bear and take care of the curtains, coverings, hangings and rails of the tabernacle; and which, when carrying from place to place, it was proper they should be covered from being exposed to rain and dust; and being so...
And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari,.... 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, c. to bear and carry: thus Moses was directed of God wisely to dispose of...
But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none,.... Being all disposed of to the sons of Gershon and Merari: the reason of which follows, because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them [was that] they should bear upon their shoulders; as the ark with the mercy seat, and cherubim, the shewbread table, the candlestick, and the two altars; though...
And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar,.... For setting it apart to sacred use and service, even the altar of burnt offering; or rather after it had bean sanctified and set apart, when it began to be made use of for sacrifice: in the day that it was anointed; with the anointing oil, whereby it was devoted to sacred service; even the...
And the Lord said unto Moses,.... For before this was said to him, even what follows, Moses knew not, as the same writer observes, how they should offer, in what order, whether according to their birth, or whether according to the journeying of their camps, or whether they should offer together, or one after another, one day after another (g);...
And he that offered his offering on the first day,.... Was he whose standard was pitched first, at the east, to the rising sun: and this was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah; who was the prince and captain of that tribe, though the title is not here given him, as to the rest of the princes, this being left to be concluded from...
And his offering [was] one silver charger,.... Or dish, like one of those used in the shewbread table to hold the bread in, only they were of gold, this of silver, and belonged to the altar of burnt offering; the use of which might be to hold the meat offering in, as it may seem from the latter part of the verse, or the wave breast or heave...
One spoon of ten [shekels] of gold, c. Its weight was according to the shekels, its matter of gold it weighed four ounces, one drachm, and nine grains, and was worth about seven pounds and ten shillings of our money: full of incense; this looks as if this spoon was designed for the golden altar of incense, which might be at this time also...
One young bullock,.... Of three years old, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem: one ram; of two years old, as the same Targums: one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; of which see Leviticus 1:3.
One kid of the goats for a sin offering. Though these offerings of the princes were by way of thanksgiving, and to express their joy and gladness at the erection of the tabernacle, its altars, and the service thereof; yet as this might not be without sin, which attends the best and purest performances of men, a sin offering was required, teaching...
And for a sacrifice of peace offerings,.... So that here were all sorts of offerings on this occasion, meat and drink offerings, burnt offerings, sin offerings, and peace offerings: and for the latter were brought two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year; the reason why so many were brought and used for this sort of...