3 And they brought H935 their offering H7133 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 six H8337 covered H6632 wagons, H5699 and twelve H6240 oxen; H1241 a wagon H5699 for two H8147 of the princes, H5387 and for each one H259 an ox: H7794 and they brought H7126 them before H6440 the tabernacle. H4908
4 And the LORD H3068 spake H559 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559
5 Take H3947 it of them, that they may be to do H5647 the service H5656 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation; H4150 and thou shalt give H5414 them unto the Levites, H3881 to every man H376 according H6310 to his service. H5656
6 And Moses H4872 took H3947 the wagons H5699 and the oxen, H1241 and gave H5414 them unto the Levites. H3881
7 Two H8147 wagons H5699 and four H702 oxen H1241 he gave H5414 unto the sons H1121 of Gershon, H1648 according H6310 to their service: H5656
8 And four H702 wagons H5699 and eight H8083 oxen H1241 he gave H5414 unto the sons H1121 of Merari, H4847 according H6310 unto their service, H5656 under the hand H3027 of Ithamar H385 the son H1121 of Aaron H175 the priest. H3548
9 But unto the sons H1121 of Kohath H6955 he gave H5414 none: H3808 because the service H5656 of the sanctuary H6944 belonging unto them was that they should bear H5375 upon their shoulders. H3802
10 And the princes H5387 offered H7126 for dedicating H2598 of the altar H4196 in the day H3117 that it was anointed, H4886 even the princes H5387 offered H7126 their offering H7133 before H6440 the altar. H4196
11 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 They shall offer H7126 their offering, H7133 each H259 prince H5387 on his day, H3117 for the dedicating H2598 of the altar. H4196
12 And he that offered H7126 his offering H7133 the first H7223 day H3117 was Nahshon H5177 the son H1121 of Amminadab, H5992 of the tribe H4294 of Judah: H3063
13 And his offering H7133 was one H259 silver H3701 charger, H7086 the weight H4948 thereof was an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, one H259 silver H3701 bowl H4219 of seventy H7657 shekels, H8255 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary; H6944 both H8147 of them were full H4392 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering: H4503
14 One H259 spoon H3709 of ten H6235 shekels of gold, H2091 full H4392 of incense: H7004
15 One H259 young H1241 bullock, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 one H259 lamb H3532 of the first H1121 year, H8141 for a burnt offering: H5930
16 One H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering: H2403
17 And for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 two H8147 oxen, H1241 five H2568 rams, H352 five H2568 he goats, H6260 five H2568 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year: H8141 this was the offering H7133 of Nahshon H5177 the son H1121 of Amminadab. H5992
18 On the second H8145 day H3117 Nethaneel H5417 the son H1121 of Zuar, H6686 prince H5387 of Issachar, H3485 did offer: H7126
19 He offered H7126 for his offering H7133 one H259 silver H3701 charger, H7086 the weight H4948 whereof was an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, one H259 silver H3701 bowl H4219 of seventy H7657 shekels, H8255 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary; H6944 both H8147 of them full H4392 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering: H4503
20 One H259 spoon H3709 of gold H2091 of ten H6235 shekels, full H4392 of incense: H7004
21 One H259 young H1241 bullock, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 one H259 lamb H3532 of the first H1121 year, H8141 for a burnt offering: H5930
22 One H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering: H2403
23 And for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 two H8147 oxen, H1241 five H2568 rams, H352 five H2568 he goats, H6260 five H2568 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year: H8141 this was the offering H7133 of Nethaneel H5417 the son H1121 of Zuar. H6686
24 On the third H7992 day H3117 Eliab H446 the son H1121 of Helon, H2497 prince H5387 of the children H1121 of Zebulun, H2074 did offer:
25 His offering H7133 was one H259 silver H3701 charger, H7086 the weight H4948 whereof was an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, one H259 silver H3701 bowl H4219 of seventy H7657 shekels, H8255 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary; H6944 both H8147 of them full H4392 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering: H4503
26 One H259 golden H2091 spoon H3709 of ten H6235 shekels, full H4392 of incense: H7004
27 One H259 young H1241 bullock, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 one H259 lamb H3532 of the first H1121 year, H8141 for a burnt offering: H5930
28 One H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering: H2403
29 And for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 two H8147 oxen, H1241 five H2568 rams, H352 five H2568 he goats, H6260 five H2568 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year: H8141 this was the offering H7133 of Eliab H446 the son H1121 of Helon. H2497
30 On the fourth H7243 day H3117 Elizur H468 the son H1121 of Shedeur, H7707 prince H5387 of the children H1121 of Reuben, H7205 did offer:
31 His offering H7133 was one H259 silver H3701 charger H7086 of the weight H4948 of an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, one H259 silver H3701 bowl H4219 of seventy H7657 shekels, H8255 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary; H6944 both H8147 of them full H4392 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering: H4503
32 One H259 golden H2091 spoon H3709 of ten H6235 shekels, full H4392 of incense: H7004
33 One H259 young H1241 bullock, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 one H259 lamb H3532 of the first H1121 year, H8141 for a burnt offering: H5930
34 One H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering: H2403
35 And for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 two H8147 oxen, H1241 five H2568 rams, H352 five H2568 he goats, H6260 five H2568 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year: H8141 this was the offering H7133 of Elizur H468 the son H1121 of Shedeur. H7707
36 On the fifth H2549 day H3117 Shelumiel H8017 the son H1121 of Zurishaddai, H6701 prince H5387 of the children H1121 of Simeon, H8095 did offer:
37 His offering H7133 was one H259 silver H3701 charger, H7086 the weight H4948 whereof was an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, one H259 silver H3701 bowl H4219 of seventy H7657 shekels, H8255 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary; H6944 both H8147 of them full H4392 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering: H4503
38 One H259 golden H2091 spoon H3709 of ten H6235 shekels, full H4392 of incense: H7004
39 One H259 young H1241 bullock, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 one H259 lamb H3532 of the first H1121 year, H8141 for a burnt offering: H5930
40 One H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering: H2403
41 And for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 two H8147 oxen, H1241 five H2568 rams, H352 five H2568 he goats, H6260 five H2568 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year: H8141 this was the offering H7133 of Shelumiel H8017 the son H1121 of Zurishaddai. H6701
42 On the sixth H8345 day H3117 Eliasaph H460 the son H1121 of Deuel, H1845 prince H5387 of the children H1121 of Gad, H1410 offered:
43 His offering H7133 was one H259 silver H3701 charger H7086 of the weight H4948 of an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, a silver H3701 bowl H4219 of seventy H7657 shekels, H8255 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary; H6944 both H8147 of them full H4392 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering: H4503
44 One H259 golden H2091 spoon H3709 of ten H6235 shekels, full H4392 of incense: H7004
45 One H259 young H1241 bullock, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 one H259 lamb H3532 of the first H1121 year, H8141 for a burnt offering: H5930
46 One H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering: H2403
47 And for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 two H8147 oxen, H1241 five H2568 rams, H352 five H2568 he goats, H6260 five H2568 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year: H8141 this was the offering H7133 of Eliasaph H460 the son H1121 of Deuel. H1845
48 On the seventh H7637 day H3117 Elishama H476 the son H1121 of Ammihud, H5989 prince H5387 of the children H1121 of Ephraim, H669 offered:
49 His offering H7133 was one H259 silver H3701 charger, H7086 the weight H4948 whereof was an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, one H259 silver H3701 bowl H4219 of seventy H7657 shekels, H8255 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary; H6944 both H8147 of them full H4392 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering: H4503
50 One H259 golden H2091 spoon H3709 of ten H6235 shekels, full H4392 of incense: H7004
51 One H259 young H1241 bullock, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 one H259 lamb H3532 of the first H1121 year, H8141 for a burnt offering: H5930
52 One H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering: H2403
53 And for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 two H8147 oxen, H1241 five H2568 rams, H352 five H2568 he goats, H6260 five H2568 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year: H8141 this was the offering H7133 of Elishama H476 the son H1121 of Ammihud. H5989
54 On the eighth H8066 day H3117 offered Gamaliel H1583 the son H1121 of Pedahzur, H6301 prince H5387 of the children H1121 of Manasseh: H4519
55 His offering H7133 was one H259 silver H3701 charger H7086 of the weight H4948 of an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, one H259 silver H3701 bowl H4219 of seventy H7657 shekels, H8255 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary; H6944 both H8147 of them full H4392 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering: H4503
56 One H259 golden H2091 spoon H3709 of ten H6235 shekels, full H4392 of incense: H7004
57 One H259 young H1241 bullock, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 one H259 lamb H3532 of the first H1121 year, H8141 for a burnt offering: H5930
58 One H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering: H2403
59 And for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 two H8147 oxen, H1241 five H2568 rams, H352 five H2568 he goats, H6260 five H2568 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year: H8141 this was the offering H7133 of Gamaliel H1583 the son H1121 of Pedahzur. H6301
60 On the ninth H8671 day H3117 Abidan H27 the son H1121 of Gideoni, H1441 prince H5387 of the children H1121 of Benjamin, H1144 offered:
61 His offering H7133 was one H259 silver H3701 charger, H7086 the weight H4948 whereof was an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, one H259 silver H3701 bowl H4219 of seventy H7657 shekels, H8255 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary; H6944 both H8147 of them full H4392 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering: H4503
62 One H259 golden H2091 spoon H3709 of ten H6235 shekels, full H4392 of incense: H7004
63 One H259 young H1241 bullock, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 one H259 lamb H3532 of the first H1121 year, H8141 for a burnt offering: H5930
64 One H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering: H2403
65 And for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 two H8147 oxen, H1241 five H2568 rams, H352 five H2568 he goats, H6260 five H2568 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year: H8141 this was the offering H7133 of Abidan H27 the son H1121 of Gideoni. H1441
66 On the tenth H6224 day H3117 Ahiezer H295 the son H1121 of Ammishaddai, H5996 prince H5387 of the children H1121 of Dan, H1835 offered:
67 His offering H7133 was one H259 silver H3701 charger, H7086 the weight H4948 whereof was an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, one H259 silver H3701 bowl H4219 of seventy H7657 shekels, H8255 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary; H6944 both H8147 of them full H4392 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering: H4503
68 One H259 golden H2091 spoon H3709 of ten H6235 shekels, full H4392 of incense: H7004
69 One H259 young H1241 bullock, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 one H259 lamb H3532 of the first H1121 year, H8141 for a burnt offering: H5930
70 One H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering: H2403
71 And for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 two H8147 oxen, H1241 five H2568 rams, H352 five H2568 he goats, H6260 five H2568 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year: H8141 this was the offering H7133 of Ahiezer H295 the son H1121 of Ammishaddai. H5996
72 On the eleventh H6249 H6240 day H3117 Pagiel H6295 the son H1121 of Ocran, H5918 prince H5387 of the children H1121 of Asher, H836 offered:
73 His offering H7133 was one H259 silver H3701 charger, H7086 the weight H4948 whereof was an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, one H259 silver H3701 bowl H4219 of seventy H7657 shekels, H8255 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary; H6944 both H8147 of them full H4392 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering: H4503
74 One H259 golden H2091 spoon H3709 of ten H6235 shekels, full H4392 of incense: H7004
75 One H259 young H1241 bullock, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 one H259 lamb H3532 of the first H1121 year, H8141 for a burnt offering: H5930
76 One H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering: H2403
77 And for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 two H8147 oxen, H1241 five H2568 rams, H352 five H2568 he goats, H6260 five H2568 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year: H8141 this was the offering H7133 of Pagiel H6295 the son H1121 of Ocran. H5918
78 On the twelfth H6240 H8147 day H3117 Ahira H299 the son H1121 of Enan, H5881 prince H5387 of the children H1121 of Naphtali, H5321 offered:
79 His offering H7133 was one H259 silver H3701 charger, H7086 the weight H4948 whereof was an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, one H259 silver H3701 bowl H4219 of seventy H7657 shekels, H8255 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary; H6944 both H8147 of them full H4392 of fine flour H5560 mingled H1101 with oil H8081 for a meat offering: H4503
80 One H259 golden H2091 spoon H3709 of ten H6235 shekels, full H4392 of incense: H7004
81 One H259 young H1241 bullock, H6499 one H259 ram, H352 one H259 lamb H3532 of the first H1121 year, H8141 for a burnt offering: H5930
82 One H259 kid H8163 of the goats H5795 for a sin offering: H2403
83 And for a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings, H8002 two H8147 oxen, H1241 five H2568 rams, H352 five H2568 he goats, H6260 five H2568 lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year: H8141 this was the offering H7133 of Ahira H299 the son H1121 of Enan. H5881
84 This was the dedication H2598 of the altar, H4196 in the day H3117 when it was anointed, H4886 by the princes H5387 of Israel: H3478 twelve H6240 H8147 chargers H7086 of silver, H3701 twelve silver H3701 bowls, H4219 twelve H6240 H8147 spoons H3709 of gold: H2091
85 Each H259 charger H7086 of silver H3701 weighing an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 shekels, each H259 bowl H4219 seventy: H7657 all the silver H3701 vessels H3627 weighed two thousand H505 and four H702 hundred H3967 shekels, after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary: H6944
86 The golden H2091 spoons H3709 were twelve, H6240 H8147 full H4392 of incense, H7004 weighing ten H6235 shekels apiece, H3709 after the shekel H8255 of the sanctuary: H6944 all the gold H2091 of the spoons H3709 was an hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 shekels.
87 All the oxen H1241 for the burnt offering H5930 were twelve H8147 H6240 bullocks, H6499 the rams H352 twelve, H8147 H6240 the lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 twelve, H8147 H6240 with their meat offering: H4503 and the kids H8163 of the goats H5795 for sin offering H2403 twelve. H8147 H6240
88 And all the oxen H1241 for the sacrifice H2077 of the peace offerings H8002 were twenty H6242 and four H702 bullocks, H6499 the rams H352 sixty, H8346 the he goats H6260 sixty, H8346 the lambs H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 sixty. H8346 This was the dedication H2598 of the altar, H4196 after H310 that it was anointed. H4886
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on Numbers 7
Commentary on Numbers 7 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
Presentation of Dedicatory Gifts by the Princes of the Tribes. - Numbers 7:1. This presentation took place at the time ( יום ) when Moses, after having completed the erection of the tabernacle, anointed and sanctified the dwelling and the altar, together with their furniture (Leviticus 8:10-11). Chronologically considered, this ought to have been noticed after Leviticus 8:10. But in order to avoid interrupting the connection of the Sinaitic laws, it is introduced for the first time at this point, and placed at the head of the events which immediately preceded the departure of the people from Sinai, because these gifts consisted in part of materials that were indispensably necessary for the transport of the tabernacle during the march through the desert. Moreover, there was only an interval of at the most forty days between the anointing of the tabernacle, which commenced after the first day of the first month (cf. Exodus 40:16 and Leviticus 8:10), and lasted eight days, and the departure from Sinai, on the twentieth day of the second month (Numbers 10:11), and from this we have to deduct six days for the Passover, which took place before their departure (Numbers 9:1.); and it was within this period that the laws and ordinances from Lev 11 to Num 6 had to be published, and the dedicatory offerings to be presented. Now, as the presentation itself was distributed, according to Numbers 7:11., over twelve or thirteen days, we may very well assume that it did not entirely precede the publication of the laws referred to, but was carried on in part contemporaneously with it. The presentation of the dedicatory gifts of one tribe-prince might possibly occupy only a few hours of the day appointed for the purpose; and the rest of the day, therefore, might very conveniently be made use of by Moses for publishing the laws. In this case the short space of a month and a few days would be amply sufficient for everything that took place.
The presentation of six waggons and twelve oxen for the carriage of the materials of the tabernacle is mentioned first, and was no doubt the first thing that took place. The princes of Israel, viz., the heads of the tribe-houses (fathers' houses), or princes of the tribes (see Numbers 1:4.), “ those who stood over those that were numbered, ” i.e., who were their leaders or rulers, offered as their sacrificial gift six covered waggons and twelve oxen, one ox for each prince, and a waggon for every two. צב עגלת , ἁμάξας λαμπηνίκας (lxx), i.e., according to Euseb. Emis., two-wheeled vehicles, though the Greek scholiasts explain λαμπήνη as signifying ἅμαξα περιφανής , βασιλικὴ and ῥέδιον περιφανὲς ὁ ἐστὶν ἅρμα σκεπαστόν (cf. Schleussner, Lex. in lxx s.v. ), and Aquila , ἅμαξαι σκεπασταί , i.e., plaustra tecta ( Vulg . and Rabb .). The meaning “litters,” which Gesenius and De Wette support, can neither be defended etymologically, nor based upon צבּים in Isaiah 66:20.
At the command of God, Moses received them to apply them to the purposes of the tabernacle, and handed them over to the Levites, “ to every one according to the measure of his service, ” i.e., to the different classes of Levites, according to the requirements of their respective duties.
He gave two waggons and four oxen to the Gershonites, and four waggons and eight oxen to the Merarites, as the former had less weight to carry, in the coverings and curtains of the dwelling and the hangings of the court, than the latter, who had to take charge of the beams and pillars ( Numbers 4:24., Numbers 4:31.). “ Under the hand of Ithamar ” (Numbers 7:8); as in Numbers 4:28, Numbers 4:33. The Kohathites received no waggon, because it was their place to attend to “the sanctuary” (the holy), i.e., the holy things, which had to be conveyed upon their shoulders, and were provided with poles for the purpose ( Numbers 4:4.).
Presentation of dedicatory gifts for the altar . - Numbers 7:10. Every prince offered “ the dedication of the altar, ” i.e., what served for the dedication of the altar, equivalent to his sacrificial gift for the consecration of the altar, “ on the day, ” i.e., at the time, “ that they anointed it .” “ Day: ” as in Genesis 2:4. Moses was directed by God to receive the gifts from the princes on separate days, one after another; so that the presentation extended over twelve days. The reason for this regulation was not to make a greater display, as Knobel supposes, or to avoid cutting short the important ceremony of consecration, but was involved in the very nature of the gifts presented. Each prince, for example, offered, (1) a silver dish ( kearah , Exodus 25:29) of 130 sacred shekels weight, i.e., about 4 1/2 lbs.; (2) a silver bowl ( mizrak , a sacrificial bowl, not a sacrificial can, or wine-can, as in Exodus 27:3) of 70 shekels weight, both filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a meat-offering; (3) a golden spoon ( caph , as in Exodus 25:29) filled with incense for an incense-offering; (4) a bullock, a ram, and a sheep of a year old for a burnt-offering; (5) a shaggy goat for a sin-offering; (5) two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five sheep of a year old for a peace-offering. Out of these gifts the fine flour, the incense, and the sacrificial animals were intended for sacrificing upon the altar, and that not as a provision for a lengthened period, but for immediate use in the way prescribed. This could not have been carried out if more than one prince had presented his gifts, and brought them to be sacrificed on any one day. For the limited space in the court of the tabernacle would not have allowed of 252 animals being received, slaughtered, and prepared for sacrificing all at once, or on the same day; and it would have been also impossible to burn 36 whole animals (oxen, rams, and sheep), and the fat portions of 216 animals, upon the altar.
All the princes brought the same gifts. The order in which the twelve princes, whose names have already been given at Numbers 1:5-15, made their presentation, corresponded to the order of the tribes in the camp (ch. 2), the tribe-prince of Judah taking the lead, and the prince of Naphtali coming last. In the statements as to the weight of the silver kearoth and the golden cappoth , the word shekel is invariably omitted, as in Genesis 20:16, etc. - In Numbers 7:84-86, the dedication gifts are summed up, and the total weight given, viz., twelve silver dishes and twelve silver bowls, weighing together 2400 shekels, and twelve golden spoons, weighing 120 shekels in all. On the sacred shekel, see at Exodus 30:13; and on the probable value of the shekel of gold, at Exodus 38:24-25. The sacrificial animals are added together in the same way in Numbers 7:87, Numbers 7:88.
Whilst the tribe-princes had thus given to the altar the consecration of a sanctuary of their God, through their sacrificial gifts, Jehovah acknowledged it as His sanctuary, by causing Moses, when he went into the tabernacle to speak to Him, and to present his own entreaties and those of the people, to hear the voice of Him that spake to him from between the two cherubim upon the ark of the covenant. The suffix in אתּו points back to the name Jehovah , which, though not expressly mentioned before, is contained implicite in ohel moëd , “ the tent of meeting .” For the holy tent became an ohel moëd first of all, from the fact that it was there that Jehovah appeared to Moses, or met with him ( נועד , Exodus 25:22). מדּבּר , part . Hithpael , to hold conversation. On the fact itself, see the explanation in Exodus 25:20, Exodus 25:22. “This voice from the inmost sanctuary of Moses, the representative of Israel, was Jehovah's reply to the joyfulness and readiness with which the princes of Israel responded to Him, and made the tent, so far as they were concerned, a place of holy meeting”' ( Baumg .). This was the reason for connecting the remark in Numbers 7:89 with the account of the dedicatory gifts.