Numbers 7

On the day the tabernacle was finished, the twelve tribal leaders brought gifts for God’s service. First came wagons and oxen to carry the tent, and then, one leader a day for twelve days, identical offerings to dedicate the altar. The chapter closes with God speaking to Moses from above the ark.

Numbers 7:1

The tabernacle was finally complete. Moses anointed it, the altar and every utensil with oil, setting them apart for God alone. Nothing in the tent was ordinary any more. Everything belonged to the Lord and was reserved for his worship.

BSA: anointed (“applying oil to consecrate, to set apart”): The oil marked these things as no longer common but dedicated to God.

Hebrew: מָשַׁח (māshach, H4886) — “to smear or anoint with oil.” This is the root of the word ‘Messiah’, which means ‘anointed one’. In Scripture, being anointed means being set apart for God’s purpose.

See also: Exodus 40:9-11.

Numbers 7:2

The twelve tribal leaders, who had helped Moses count the people, now came forward on their own. Those who had carried the weight of numbering Israel now carried the weight of generous giving. Willing hearts often follow clear leadership.

BSA: leaders (“princes, high-ranking officials”): These were men of real standing among their tribes, so their giving set an example for everyone.

Hebrew: נָשִׂיא (nāśîʾ, H5387) — “one lifted up; a chief or prince.” The word comes from ’to lift up’. The leaders were raised in rank, and here they used that position to lift up an offering to God.

See also: Numbers 1:4-16.

Numbers 7:3

Together the leaders brought six covered carts and twelve oxen: one ox from each, and one cart from every two. They placed the gift before the tabernacle. It was a practical gift, meant to make the work of moving God’s dwelling place easier.

BSA: covered (“with a litter, canopied”): These were sturdy, roofed wagons, suited to carrying the sacred tent and its parts.

Numbers 7:4-5

God told Moses to accept the gifts and to hand them to the Levites, each according to the work he had to do. God receives what is freely given, and then he assigns it to where it is needed.

BSA: service (“work, ministry, duty”): Each Levite family had its own assigned duty, and the gift was fitted to that duty.

See also: Numbers 4:1-33.

Numbers 7:6

Moses did exactly as the Lord said. He took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. The leaders’ gift did not stay with Moses. It went straight into the hands of those who would serve.

BSA: gave (“delivered, handed over”): The gift was passed on to the workers who needed it, and Moses kept none of it.

Numbers 7:7-8

The Gershonites received two carts and four oxen, and the Merarites four carts and eight oxen. Merari’s family carried the heavier parts, such as the frames and pillars. Ithamar, Aaron’s son, oversaw both groups. God matched the help to the load.

See also: Numbers 4:24-33.

Numbers 7:9

The Kohathites got no carts, because their task was to carry the holy objects, such as the ark, on their own shoulders. For them the burden was meant to be felt personally. Holy things were to be handled with reverence, not simply hauled.

BSA: shoulders (“the upper end of the arm, a place of strength”): Carrying the sacred things on the shoulders showed that this duty required strength and personal devotion.

See also: Numbers 4:15; 2 Samuel 6:6-7.

Numbers 7:10

When the altar was anointed, the leaders came with offerings for its dedication. The altar was where sin was dealt with and fellowship with God was kept up, so it was fitting that Israel’s heads should open its use with gifts.

BSA: dedication (“initiation, consecration”): This was the formal beginning of the altar’s work, the moment it was launched into God’s service.

Hebrew: חֲנֻכַּת (chănukkat, H2598) — “dedication, inauguration.” It comes from a word meaning to start something off or to train. It is the root of ‘Hanukkah’, the feast of dedication.

Numbers 7:11

God gave an order for the gifts: one leader each day, for twelve days. No one was rushed and no one was lost in a crowd. Each tribe received its own day of honor before the altar.

BSA: present (“to approach or come near, with a sense of purpose”): Giving was an act of drawing near to God on purpose, not simply of handing something over.

Numbers 7:12

Nahshon of Judah brought the first offering. Judah camped on the east, at the head of the march. Nahshon is later named in the family line of David, and in the line of Jesus.

BSA: drew near (“to present, approach”): This one phrase carries the whole idea of worship as coming close to God with a gift.

Hebrew: קָרַב (qārab, H7126) — “to come near, bring near.” Each leader ‘drew near’ and ‘brought near’ his gift. The Hebrew word for a sacrifice, qorban, comes from this same root.

See also: Numbers 2:3; Matthew 1:4.

Numbers 7:13-14

The gift began with silver and gold vessels. The silver platter and bowl were filled with fine flour mixed with oil, which was a grain offering. The gold dish was filled with incense. The ‘sanctuary shekel’ was a standard weight kept for holy things.

BSA: incense (“sweet smoke, a pleasing aroma, perfume”): Incense rising before God pictures prayer and worship ascending as a pleasing fragrance. dish (“spoon, ladle”): It was a small hand-sized vessel, made of gold and filled with sweet-smelling incense.

Hebrew: כַּף (kaf, H3709) — “palm of the hand; a hollow dish or spoon.” The word means the open hand, so the dish is like a hand held out to God full of fragrance.

See also: Psalm 141:2.

Numbers 7:15-16

Next came animals: a bull, a ram and a lamb for a burnt offering, wholly given to God, and a male goat for a sin offering. Sin is dealt with and full devotion is given, and the two belong side by side.

BSA: burnt offering (“a step or stairs, often used to describe the ascent to the altar”): The whole animal went up in smoke, as a picture of complete surrender rising to God. sin offering (“atonement, purification”): The goat’s death stood in the place of the worshipper’s guilt and cleansed what sin had stained.

Hebrew: עֹלָה (ʿōlāh, H5930) — “that which goes up; a whole burnt offering.” The name comes from the verb ’to go up’. The entire offering ascended in smoke, with nothing held back.

See also: Leviticus 1:3-4; Leviticus 4:22-26.

Numbers 7:17

The largest part was the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five goats and five lambs. In this kind of sacrifice, part of the meat was eaten by the worshipper. It was a shared meal of fellowship with God. Verse 17 closes Nahshon’s day by naming him.

BSA: peace offering (“sacrifice of peace, voluntary gift”): It was given freely, as thanks and as fellowship with God, and not because something was demanded.

Hebrew: שְׁלָמִים (shᵉlāmîm, H8002) — “peace offerings; offerings of well-being.” It is related to shalom. It speaks of wholeness and of being at peace with God, expressed in a shared meal.

See also: Leviticus 3:1.

Numbers 7:18-23

On the second day Nethanel of Issachar brought exactly the same gift. His name means ‘given of God’, which suits a gift that first came from God. No tribe tried to outdo another, and each stood equal before the altar.

See also: 1 Chronicles 29:14.

Numbers 7:24-29

On the third day Eliab of Zebulun brought the same gift. Judah, Issachar and Zebulun were the three tribes camped on the east side, so the offerings followed the order in which Israel camped around the tent.

See also: Numbers 2:3-7.

Numbers 7:30-35

On the fourth day Elizur of Reuben brought the same gift. Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn, yet here he takes his place as one among twelve, with no extra honor. All the tribes were to stand together before God with equal gifts.

See also: Numbers 2:10-16.

Numbers 7:36-41

On the fifth day Shelumiel of Simeon brought the same gift. His name is understood to mean ‘God is my peace’, which echoes the peace offering. Every tribe, large or small, shared fully in this worship.

See also: Numbers 2:12.

Numbers 7:42-47

On the sixth day Eliasaph of Gad brought the same gift, completing the offerings from the tribes on the south side of the camp. Each day passed in the same orderly way, with careful repetition and no hurry.

See also: Numbers 2:14.

Numbers 7:48-53

On the seventh day Elishama of Ephraim brought the same gift. Ephraim led the tribes camped on the west side. Elishama is later listed as the grandfather of Joshua, who would one day lead Israel into the land.

See also: Numbers 2:18; 1 Chronicles 7:26-27.

Numbers 7:54-59

On the eighth day Gamaliel of Manasseh brought the same gift. Manasseh and Ephraim were the two sons of Joseph, and they stood side by side in the camp. The gifts were identical, with the same silver, gold and offerings.

See also: Numbers 2:20.

Numbers 7:60-65

On the ninth day Abidan of Benjamin brought the same gift, completing the west side of the camp. His name means ‘my father is judge’. A faithful gift to God was not a contest, only the same honest offering from each hand.

See also: Numbers 2:22.

Numbers 7:66-71

On the tenth day Ahiezer of Dan brought the same gift. Dan was the largest of the northern tribes and marched last, guarding the rear. Even the tribes at the back received their full day of honor before the altar.

See also: Numbers 2:25-31.

Numbers 7:72-77

On the eleventh day Pagiel of Asher brought the same gift. By now the pattern was familiar, yet the Spirit of God recorded each name and each gift in full. Nothing offered to the Lord is overlooked by him.

See also: Hebrews 6:10.

Numbers 7:78-83

On the twelfth day Ahira of Naphtali brought the last gift, matching all the others. The line of offerings had run from first to last, every tribe drawing near in turn until all twelve had given.

See also: Numbers 2:29.

Numbers 7:84-86

The totals were twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls and twelve gold dishes. The silver weighed 2,400 shekels in all, and the gold 120. This was a large treasure, and every shekel was weighed by the sanctuary’s own standard.

BSA: sanctuary (“holy place, or consecrated area”): Even weights and measures for God’s gifts were set by the standard of the holy place.

Numbers 7:87-88

The totals of the animals are added up: twelve bulls, rams and lambs for burnt offerings, with twelve goats for sin offerings, and a great number for the peace offerings. The altar was now officially in use, with sin dealt with, full devotion given and fellowship shared.

BSA: dedication (“an act of consecration, to initiate or set apart”): The offerings together formally opened the altar for Israel’s worship.

Numbers 7:89

After the gifts, Moses entered the Tent of Meeting and heard God’s voice speaking from above the ark, between the two cherubim. God had accepted a dwelling place among his people, and he spoke from it.

BSA: mercy seat (“the golden lid”): The lid of the ark was the place where God’s presence met his people, and where blood was sprinkled for atonement.

Hebrew: כַּפֹּרֶת (kapporet, H3727) — “covering; place of atonement; mercy seat.” It comes from a verb meaning to cover or atone. The very spot where God spoke was the spot where sin was covered.

See also: Exodus 25:22; Hebrews 9:5.