American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Numbers 7
1
And 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;
Reference
2
That 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:
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Chronicles 35:8
3
And 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.
4
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
5
Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.
6
And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites.
7
Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service:
8
And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
9
But to the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging to them was that they should bear on their shoulders.
Reference
10
And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.
Reference
Parallel theme
Nehemiah 12:27
Deuteronomy 20:5
Sacrifice
2 Chronicles 7:9
1 Kings 8:63
2 Chronicles 7:5
11
And the LORD said to Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.
12
And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:
13
And 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:
Reference
14
One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense:
15
One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
16
One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
Reference
Sin
Leviticus 4:23
17
And 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.
18
On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer:
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 1:8
19
He 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:
20
One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense:
21
One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
22
One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
23
And 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.
24
On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer:
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 1:9
25
His 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:
26
One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
27
One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
28
One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
29
And 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.
30
On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer:
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 1:5
31
His 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:
32
One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
33
One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
34
One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
35
And 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.
36
On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer:
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 1:6
37
His 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:
38
One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
39
One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
40
One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
41
And 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.
43
His 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:
Reference
44
One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
45
One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
46
One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
47
And 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.
48
On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered:
Reference
49
His 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:
50
One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
51
One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
52
One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
53
And 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.
54
On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh:
Reference
55
His 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:
56
One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
57
One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
58
One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
59
And 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.
60
On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered:
Reference
61
His 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:
62
One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
63
One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
64
One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
65
And 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.
66
On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered:
Reference
67
His 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:
68
One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
69
One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
70
One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
71
And 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.
73
His 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:
74
One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
75
One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
76
One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
77
And 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.
79
His 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:
80
One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
81
One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
82
One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
83
And 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.
84
This 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:
Reference
Sacrifice
Numbers 7:10
85
Each 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:
86
The 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.
87
All 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.
88
And 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.
Reference
89
And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking to him from off the mercy seat that was on the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubim: and he spoke to him.
Reference
Grace
Hebrews 4:16
Kingdom
Psalm 99:1
Parallel theme
Psalm 80:1
1 Kings 6:23
1 Samuel 4:4
1 Peter 1:12
References Moses
Numbers 12:8
Temple
Leviticus 1:1
Numbers 1:1
Summary of Numbers 7
Numbers chapter 7 provides the accounts of offerings by the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel after Moses had completed organizing and anointing the tabernacle. The chapter is one of the longest in the Book of Numbers because it provides accounts about offerings from each tribe separately. Although the tribes offered similar gifts, each leader of the tribe has been named and his offering is recorded. The chapter emphasizes the importance that the Israelites placed on the tabernacle and its service with each tribe participating.
The chapter begins when Moses had completed the task of organizing the tabernacle. He had anointed the tabernacle and its vessels and the altar, which had been anointed and sanctified. The Israelites’ leaders brought offerings to the tabernacle after Moses had set it up.
The leaders were the ones who helped Moses take the census of Israelites and they brought six covered wagons and twelve oxen. Two leaders shared each wagon while each leader brought an ox. Moses received the gifts and assigned the wagons and oxen to the Levites according to the tasks given to them.
The Gershonites received two wagons and four oxen as compared to the Merarites who received four wagons and eight oxen. This was because Gershon’s task involved carrying the curtains, coverings, hangings, and various materials used for the tabernacle while those of Merari involved carrying the heaver boards, pillars, sockets, bars, and other furnishings.
The Kohathites did not receive either wagons or oxen. Theirs was the task of shouldering the furnishings of the tabernacle and this was not to be done using any carts. The difference in the tasks of the three families of the Levites indicates that the manner in which they carried out their duties was different.
After the distribution of gifts to these families, the tribal leaders began to bring their offerings for the dedication of the altar. It took twelve days for the offerings to complete with each leader bringing his offering on a separate day. Each leader was able to present his offering as a representative of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The first was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, the leader of the tribe of Judah, who brought a silver charger, a silver bowl, and a golden spoon containing incense. He also brought a young bullock, a ram, and a lamb for a burnt offering, a goat for a sin offering, and two oxen, five rams, five goats for a peace offering and five lambs.
The other tribal leaders followed. Nethaneel the son of Zuar brought the offering for Issachar while Eliab the son of Helon represented Zebulun. Elizur the son of Shedeur represented Reuben and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai represented Simeon. Eliasaph the son of Deuel represented Gad and Elishama the son of Ammihud brought the offering for Ephraim. Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur represented Manasseh while Abidan the son of Gideoni brought the offering for Benjamin. Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai represented Dan while Pagiel the son of Ocran brought the offering for Asher and Ahira the son of Enan represented Naphtali.
Each leader brought an offering with the same pattern being repeated. The repetition of the same account of gifts seems monotonous but this is to emphasize the fact that no tribe was considered less important than the other. Each leader was named and his offering was recorded. The offerings from one tribe were not considered more valuable than those of another tribe.
The offerings included silver vessels full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, a golden spoon of incense as a gift, and animals that were to be offered as burnt, sin, and peace offerings. Each included a young bullock, a ram, and a lamb for a burnt offering, a goat for a sin offering, and additional animals for a peace offering.
The total number of gifts from the twelve leaders was great. It included twelve silver chargers, twelve silver bowls, and twelve golden spoons filled with incense. The numbers of animals were also large and included twelve young bullocks and twelve rams for burnt offerings and twelve lambs and their accompanying offerings, twelve goats for sin offerings and large numbers of animals for peace offerings.
The final part of the chapter describes what happened when Moses went into the tabernacle to speak to God. He heard the voice of God speaking to him from above the mercy seat, which was above the ark of the testimony between the two cherubims.
This was one of the most significant events recorded in Numbers chapter 7. The offerings that had been made by the Israelites’ tribal leaders had enabled Moses to enter the tabernacle and speak to God. Moses was able to hear God’s voice from above the mercy seat as the Israelites’ leaders had dedicated the tabernacle by making the offerings.
Numbers chapter 7 emphasizes the importance of the leadership of the Israelites. The leaders represented their tribes and they had the responsibility of helping to support the Israelites’ worship. The gifts that the leaders brought were not made to appear that one was richer than the other. The leaders brought gifts toward the dedication of the sanctuary and Moses had the opportunity to speak to God.
The wagons and the oxen that the leaders brought were used in the transport of the various items that had been used in the tabernacle. These included the curtains, the boards and the pillars. The gifts from the leaders enabled the Levites to perform their duties.
However, it was emphasized that the Kohathites should not use carts to carry the different furnishings that had been used in the tabernacle. Theirs was the responsibility of shouldering the furnishings of the tabernacle and this included moving the most sacred items as well as the other items.
The offerings of the leaders to the tabernacle show that there was unity among the twelve tribes of Israel. Each tribe had a leader who was able to represent his tribe. The leaders brought offerings that were almost the same indicating that each of the tribes contributed toward the worship of God.
Numbers chapter 7 provides the account of the dedication of the altar and the beginning of the regular service at the tabernacle. The Israelites’ leaders brought gifts that enabled the transport of the equipment at the sanctuary. They also brought sacrifices for the dedication of the tabernacle. Each tribe brought offerings with their leaders being named and each offering was recorded. Moses was able to enter the tabernacle to speak with God which showed that the worship of God was the most important activity of the Israelites’ lives.
The chapter begins when Moses had completed the task of organizing the tabernacle. He had anointed the tabernacle and its vessels and the altar, which had been anointed and sanctified. The Israelites’ leaders brought offerings to the tabernacle after Moses had set it up.
The leaders were the ones who helped Moses take the census of Israelites and they brought six covered wagons and twelve oxen. Two leaders shared each wagon while each leader brought an ox. Moses received the gifts and assigned the wagons and oxen to the Levites according to the tasks given to them.
The Gershonites received two wagons and four oxen as compared to the Merarites who received four wagons and eight oxen. This was because Gershon’s task involved carrying the curtains, coverings, hangings, and various materials used for the tabernacle while those of Merari involved carrying the heaver boards, pillars, sockets, bars, and other furnishings.
The Kohathites did not receive either wagons or oxen. Theirs was the task of shouldering the furnishings of the tabernacle and this was not to be done using any carts. The difference in the tasks of the three families of the Levites indicates that the manner in which they carried out their duties was different.
After the distribution of gifts to these families, the tribal leaders began to bring their offerings for the dedication of the altar. It took twelve days for the offerings to complete with each leader bringing his offering on a separate day. Each leader was able to present his offering as a representative of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The first was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, the leader of the tribe of Judah, who brought a silver charger, a silver bowl, and a golden spoon containing incense. He also brought a young bullock, a ram, and a lamb for a burnt offering, a goat for a sin offering, and two oxen, five rams, five goats for a peace offering and five lambs.
The other tribal leaders followed. Nethaneel the son of Zuar brought the offering for Issachar while Eliab the son of Helon represented Zebulun. Elizur the son of Shedeur represented Reuben and Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai represented Simeon. Eliasaph the son of Deuel represented Gad and Elishama the son of Ammihud brought the offering for Ephraim. Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur represented Manasseh while Abidan the son of Gideoni brought the offering for Benjamin. Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai represented Dan while Pagiel the son of Ocran brought the offering for Asher and Ahira the son of Enan represented Naphtali.
Each leader brought an offering with the same pattern being repeated. The repetition of the same account of gifts seems monotonous but this is to emphasize the fact that no tribe was considered less important than the other. Each leader was named and his offering was recorded. The offerings from one tribe were not considered more valuable than those of another tribe.
The offerings included silver vessels full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, a golden spoon of incense as a gift, and animals that were to be offered as burnt, sin, and peace offerings. Each included a young bullock, a ram, and a lamb for a burnt offering, a goat for a sin offering, and additional animals for a peace offering.
The total number of gifts from the twelve leaders was great. It included twelve silver chargers, twelve silver bowls, and twelve golden spoons filled with incense. The numbers of animals were also large and included twelve young bullocks and twelve rams for burnt offerings and twelve lambs and their accompanying offerings, twelve goats for sin offerings and large numbers of animals for peace offerings.
The final part of the chapter describes what happened when Moses went into the tabernacle to speak to God. He heard the voice of God speaking to him from above the mercy seat, which was above the ark of the testimony between the two cherubims.
This was one of the most significant events recorded in Numbers chapter 7. The offerings that had been made by the Israelites’ tribal leaders had enabled Moses to enter the tabernacle and speak to God. Moses was able to hear God’s voice from above the mercy seat as the Israelites’ leaders had dedicated the tabernacle by making the offerings.
Numbers chapter 7 emphasizes the importance of the leadership of the Israelites. The leaders represented their tribes and they had the responsibility of helping to support the Israelites’ worship. The gifts that the leaders brought were not made to appear that one was richer than the other. The leaders brought gifts toward the dedication of the sanctuary and Moses had the opportunity to speak to God.
The wagons and the oxen that the leaders brought were used in the transport of the various items that had been used in the tabernacle. These included the curtains, the boards and the pillars. The gifts from the leaders enabled the Levites to perform their duties.
However, it was emphasized that the Kohathites should not use carts to carry the different furnishings that had been used in the tabernacle. Theirs was the responsibility of shouldering the furnishings of the tabernacle and this included moving the most sacred items as well as the other items.
The offerings of the leaders to the tabernacle show that there was unity among the twelve tribes of Israel. Each tribe had a leader who was able to represent his tribe. The leaders brought offerings that were almost the same indicating that each of the tribes contributed toward the worship of God.
Numbers chapter 7 provides the account of the dedication of the altar and the beginning of the regular service at the tabernacle. The Israelites’ leaders brought gifts that enabled the transport of the equipment at the sanctuary. They also brought sacrifices for the dedication of the tabernacle. Each tribe brought offerings with their leaders being named and each offering was recorded. Moses was able to enter the tabernacle to speak with God which showed that the worship of God was the most important activity of the Israelites’ lives.