Read Numbers 7
Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle
7 When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings. He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils. 2 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted, made offerings. 3 They brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered carts and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.
4 The Lord said to Moses, 5 “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.”
6 So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites, as their work required, 8 and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. 9 But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites, because they were to carry on their shoulders the holy things, for which they were responsible.
10 When the altar was anointed, the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication 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 son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.
13 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekelsand 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; 14 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;15 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 16 one male goat for a sin offering; 17 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 Nahshon son of Amminadab.
18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, 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 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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.
54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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: twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes. 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, according to the sanctuary shekel. 86 The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels. 87 The total number of animals for the burnt offering came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering. Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering. 88 The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.
89 When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law. In this way the Lord spoke to him.
Go Deeper
This chapter is a long one–89 verses in all–telling us all about the offerings brought to the tabernacle over the period of twelve consecutive days. Day by day, a new offering came. Plates, bowls, dishes, animals, incense, oil, and more were brought to the tabernacle by a representative from each of the twelve tribes. Reading this chapter, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the details and as if it’s next to impossible to keep track of who brought what. But do you know why all of these details are in this chapter?
Because that’s what happened. Chapters like this serve as a helpful reminder to us that the book of Numbers (along with the other 65 books in the Bible) were not a creative writing assignment given to an author that was eventually turned in and published. This book in particular is a history book! The reason it’s so full of details, precise measurements and weights, and specific counts of different animals is because that’s what really happened over this twelve day period and it was such a significant moment that it was written down and the Holy Spirit preserved this text so that we could read it thousands of years later.
This chapter also serves a helpful reminder to us that God is in all of the details. This passage could have been summed up more quickly, saying “All twelve tribes brought identical offerings.” God could have had them bring them all at once. But tribe by tribe, offering by offering they were presented to God. And these were generous, valuable offerings presented to a good and caring God who had preserved and protected His people through thick and thin.
This chapter ends on an interesting note, as Moses entered into the tent of meeting so that he could interact with God. While sometimes we’re not given specifics about what it was like when Moses and God would interact, here it’s clear that God was audibly speaking to Moses. Think about that! Moses was the right leader for the Israelites in this moment because of how in-step he was with God. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit, we too have a special access to God that previously could only happen in the tent of meeting. Praise God for the way we can speak and listen to Him today!
Questions
- What most stuck out to you as you read through this passage? Why?
- What does this passage teach you about God? What does it teach you about humanity?
- What did you notice about God’s interaction with Moses? What would it look like for you to listen for God today?
Keep Digging
There were five different kinds of offerings (or sacrifices) in the Old Testament. To learn more about them, check out this helpful article from GotQuestions.org!
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6 thoughts on “Numbers 7”
79 “His offering was . . . “
The same wording 12 times! Wow! Too bad they didn’t have the copy/paste function available to them back then!
It is so fascinating how these historical accounting details are contained in God’s word that we study so many years later!
🙄hmm
Generous
Finally the moving tabernacle has been completed for service. All 12 tribes brought special offerings to the Lord to be used by the priests and Levites. It is interesting to me about the spiritual meaning of numbers. The tribe of Judah was first, which makes sense. The tribe of Ephraim was seventh, which would have been on their Sabbath and that most likely has some sprirtual meaning. (?) It is Judah and Ephraim who are also called “The Two Houses of Israel” in Ezekiel and elsewhere in the Bible. All the DETAILS that God gives is of importance.
All of these offerings, the 12 tribes brought were costly and generous, but very practical as well. God noted each man by name, twice. His love is for EACH individual believer. He knows our name. We will all stand before Him and recieve our own reward according to each persons own labor.
As we have been reading I have noted that most chapters state “And the Lord spoke to Moses”. In my brain that means God is talking to Moses. Here in verse 89 it says Moses went into the tent to speak with the Lord, (pray, maybe?). Moses heard a voice speaking to him, so maybe this was auidable? Just some thoughts. My opinion is that when the Lord spoke to Moses about all that was to be done and completed it was in an audiable voice. When Moses went into to the tabernacle it was to give God glory and honor for all He had been doing and God said “Thank You”. (insert Amy’s thinking)
God I have been raised up with Christ, as a new creation. I am seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at Your right hand. Help me to set my minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. God help me to put to death my earthly flesh of sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. God hlep me to put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from my mouth. God thank You that I cannot lie to another. God show me how to put off the old self with its practices and to put on my new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator but Christ is all, and in all. God help me to be as Your chosen one, holy and beloved, compassionate hearted, kind, humble, meek, and patience. God let me help others by bearing with one another and, if I have a complaint against another,to be forgiving of each other; as You have forgiven me, so I also must forgive. And above all these help me to put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in my heart, to which indeed I was called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in me richly, teaching and admonishing others in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in my heart to You, God. God And whatever I do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Jesus. (Col 3:1-17) God let all of these be done to Your glory, honor and thankfulness today, in these minutes of this day, in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s fascinating to recall the setting of the activities we read of today. The Israelites weren’t in the Promised Land but were still wandering in the desert places. Perhaps God was teaching them it’s not just about the destination but the journey that counts. The experiences and lessons learned during the process of reaching the goal were just as important, if not more important, than achieving the goal itself. God’s goal has always been and always will be our holiness ushered in through obedience to his commands.
When I think back on things of my life, I refer to it as a journey (whether suffering or joy), then I realize that God has made me stronger and want to stay closer to Him..
Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness!
It sticks out that Moses repeated these important details. It goes to show his dedication and importance for the same offering lol. I would have appreciated more tho of a discription of what was talking w god like at the end.
Cool chapter 🙂