Chapter Seven
Offerings Given at the Tabernacle’s Consecration
7:1 On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils,
Chapter seven is the longest chapter in the book of Numbers, however, much of the text is redundant as some of the details are repeated as many as twelve times, making it an excellent example of an ancient Hebrew repetitive writing style.
This chapter opens with a reference to the day Moses had finished setting up, anointing, and consecrating the Tabernacle. According to the last chapter of the book of Exodus, “In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.” (Exodus 40:17), this statement raises many questions. The first being, is the narrative in chronological order? Equally important is the question regarding the amount of time required to perform the events recorded in Exodus chapter 40 through to the end of Numbers chapter 7. Then there is the matter of the offerings made in this chapter, if made in twelve sequential days as recorded, then would that violate the laws regarding the Sabbath and possibly Passover? These questions have been the source of consternation among scholars and rabbis for many years.
The Tabernacle was completed on the first of Nisan, as explicitly stated in Exodus 40:17, a date supported by Rabbi Akiba (Sif. Num. 68). This conflicts with the main rabbinic position (Sif. Num. 44, SOR 7) that the Tabernacle was erected on the twenty-third of Adar. This would imply that the Tabernacle and the priests were consecrated between the first and seventh of Nisan (cf. Lev. 8:33) and that the offerings of the chieftains took place between the eighth and nineteenth of Nisan—overlapping the Passover![1]
Perhaps the best and easiest solution is to recognize that the phrase “On the day” is the Hebrew “b yôm,” where the preposition ‘b’ (which can also be translated as ‘in,’ ‘at,’ ‘among,’ ‘with’, etc.) followed by ‘yōm’,[2] which can be understood as being a reference to an undetermined period of time,[3] allows these events to occur from the moment the Tabernacle was ready without any time constraints.
7:2 the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers’ houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached 3 and brought their offerings before the LORD, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, 5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.” 6 So 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 direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder. 10 And the chiefs offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed; and the chiefs offered their offering before the altar. 11 And the LORD said to Moses, “They shall offer their offerings, one chief each day, for the dedication of the altar.”
The chiefs of each tribe approached the Tabernacle with special gifts to God and to the Levities for use in service to God. The gift consisted of six wagons and twelve oxen. There is some question about what type of wagon they were, the Hebrew text describes them with two words. The first word being ‘ěḡ·lōṯ’[4] which typically refers to a royal wagon or cart, and ‘sāb’,[5] usually considered a large covered wagon.
Moses may have been surprised by the wagons and oxen, requiring God to prompt him to accept the gifts and distribute them according to each Levite family’s needs. Two wagons and four oxen were given to the Gershonites to transport the Tabernacle coverings (see Numbers 3:21-26). Four wagons and eight oxen were given to the Merarites to transport the Tabernacle’s frame and bases (see Numbers 3:33-37). Both the Gershonites and the Merarites were under the supervision of Ithamar (see Numbers 4:28, 33). Since the Kohathites were required to “hand carry” the furnishings of the Tabernacle, they were not given any of the wagons or oxen as they were to be carried on their shoulders.
The leaders of the tribes came forward to offer their sacrifices before the bronze altar. God instructed Moses that the offerings were to proceed with the sacrifices, however only one tribe would offer their sacrifices per day. Note again how the use of the term ‘yōm’ in verse ten, implying a period of time, involving several days instead of a single day. In verse eleven, however, the Hebrew clearly specifies one day, which indicates the reference is to a twenty-four-hour day.[6]
It is interesting to note that the word translated as ‘dedication’ both times (verses 10 and 11), is the Hebrew word ‘ẖǎnǔk·kā(h)’,[7] seen for the first time in Scripture, referring to a ceremony to officially recognize something being put into service (four of the eight appearances occur in this chapter). The word was adopted centuries later to name the annual celebration of the rededication of the Second Temple, also known as the Festival of Lights.[8]
7:12 He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah. 13 And his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 14 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 15 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 16 one male goat for a sin offering; 17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
The tribes are selected in order of their encampment beginning with the tribe of Judah. Nahshon brought the tribe’s offering of one silver plate that weighed 130 shekels (a little over three pounds) and one silver basin weighing 70 shekels (approximately one and two-thirds pound) both containers full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. One golden dish weighing 10 shekels (approximately one quarter pound) full of incense. One bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering. One male goat for a sin offering. Two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male year-old lambs for a peace offering. Each tribe will submit the identical offerings for dedication of the Tabernacle.
7:18 On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, the chief of Issachar, made an offering. 19 He offered for his offering one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 20 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 21 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 22 one male goat for a sin offering; 23 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.
Nathanel of the tribe of Issachar, offered the same offering as Nahshon did for the tribe of Judah.
7:24 On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, the chief of the people of Zebulun: 25 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 26 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 27 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 28 one male goat for a sin offering; 29 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
Eliab from the tribe of Zebulon on the third day presented the same offering as the tribe of Judah did on the first day.
7:30 On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, the chief of the people of Reuben: 31 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 32 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 33 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 34 one male goat for a sin offering; 35 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Elizur, the chief of the tribe of Reuben, brought the same offering as Nahshon did for the tribe of Judah.
7:36 On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, the chief of the people of Simeon: 37 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 38 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 39 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 40 one male goat for a sin offering; 41 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
The same offering that was made for the tribe of Judah was made by Shelumiel for the tribe of Simeon.
7:42 On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, the chief of the people of Gad: 43 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 44 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 45 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 46 one male goat for a sin offering; 47 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Again, the same offering was presented by Eliasaph for the tribe of Gad.
7:48 On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, the chief of the people of Ephraim: 49 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 50 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 51 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 52 one male goat for a sin offering; 53 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
Elishama offered the same for the tribe of Ephraim.
7:54 On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, the chief of the people of Manasseh: 55 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 56 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 57 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 58 one male goat for a sin offering; 59 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Gamaliel came with the offering for the tribe of Manasseh.
7:60 On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, the chief of the people of Benjamin: 61 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 62 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 63 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 64 one male goat for a sin offering; 65 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
The chief of the people of Benjamin, Abidan, presented their offerings.
7:66 On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, the chief of the people of Dan: 67 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 68 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 69 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 70 one male goat for a sin offering; 71 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
On the tenth day Ahiezer approached with the tribe of Dan’s offering.
7:72 On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, the chief of the people of Asher: 73 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 74 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 75 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 76 one male goat for a sin offering; 77 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran.
The offerings for the tribe of Asher were presented by their chief, Pagiel.
7:78 On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, the chief of the people of Naphtali: 79 his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 80 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; 81 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; 82 one male goat for a sin offering; 83 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
The last tribe was Naphtali, represented by Ahira. While this style of writing may be monotonous to some readers today, it does provide precision and clarity. This form of repetition is regularly employed in Scripture.
7:84 This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day when it was anointed, from the chiefs of Israel: twelve silver plates, twelve silver basins, twelve golden dishes, 85 each silver plate weighing 130 shekels and each basin 70, all the silver of the vessels 2,400 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary, 86 the twelve golden dishes, full of incense, weighing 10 shekels apiece according to the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the dishes being 120 shekels; 87 all the cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, twelve rams, twelve male lambs a year old, with their grain offering; and twelve male goats for a sin offering; 88 and all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace offerings twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.
In summary, the total offerings received from the twelve tribes were: twelve silver plates and twelve silver basins for a total weight of silver being 2,400 shekels (approximately 58 pounds); twelve golden dishes full of incense weighing ten shekels each (120 shekels or approximately three pounds); twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve male lambs a year old for burnt offerings with their grain offerings; twelve male goats for sin offerings; and twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, and sixty male goats for peace offerings.
The total number of animals to be sacrificed: 192, much more than the Tabernacle could handle in one day, offering additional support for the multiple-day period of time interpretation,
7:89 And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.
As promised in Exodus 25:22, Moses was able to speak to God in the structure. YHWH spoke to him from above the mercy seat between the two golden cherubim (see Exodus 25:10-22).
The Hebrew word translated here as ‘speaking’ is ‘mid·dǎb·bēr’,[9] a verb that means “to speak,” here it is in what is known as a hithpael form.[10] Some believe that the use of the hithpael (reflexive) form means that this was the location where God always spoke to Moses.
The hithpael form מִדַּבֵּר (middabbēr) indicates that the “Voice” continually spoke with Moses (see Levine, Numbers, p. 258). This probably means that each time Moses was addressed by the Lord following the consecration of the tabernacle, he received instruction from the same place. Thus, the tabernacle becomes the new Sinai.[11]
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[1] Milgrom, J. (1990). Numbers (p. 362). Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society.
[2] Strong’s Hebrew 3117.
[3] See Considerations under Genesis 1:2.
[4] Strong’s Hebrew 5699.
[5] Strong’s Hebrew 6632.
[6] See Considerations under Genesis 1:2.
[7] Strong’s Hebrew 2598.
[8] See Considerations under the Prophetic Overview under Leviticus chapter 23.
[9] Strong’s Hebrew 1696.
[10] The hithpael is the seventh of the seven major verb patterns. The hithpael makes up 1.2% of all verbs in the Hebrew Bible. A common use of the hithpael is to express the reflexive—that is, action done to oneself. Futato, M. D. (2003). Beginning Biblical Hebrew (p. 243). Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns.
[11] Woods, C. M., & Rogers, J. (2006). Leviticus–Numbers. Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co.