Numbers 7

Two distinct classes of offerings were made by the tribes through their princes or chiefs. The first comprised the six wagons and twelve oxen to be used in the transportation of the fabric of the tabernacle, the court, and all the holy things pertaining thereto. These were probably presented on the same day that the tabernacle and court were reared. The second comprised the costly vessels needed for the two altars and the special sacrifices to be first offered for a formal dedication of the altar of burnt-offering. B.

The remarkable thing about this record is that though each prince gave precisely the same, all the details are repeated for each one, so that there appears at first sight to be a very needless waste of words. The very same reason which made it desirable that the separate gifts should be brought on separate days, made it proper that the record of them should be kept separate, and brought as near in impressiveness as possible to the original ceremony. And then though the gift be the same, the giver is different; therefore let him by all means have his place in the Divine notice and remembrance, exactly as if he had been the only man that brought it. It is also worthy of note that we have in this record a very obvious indication of contemporaneousness with the event. No later writer would have thought of making such entries as these. J. M. G.

Offering of Wagons and Oxen.

2. The princes offered. These offerings came equally from all the tribes, though it is probable that neither the princes nor the tribes were all alike rich; but thus it was intimated that all the tribes of Israel had an equal share in the altar, and an equal interest in the sacrifices that were offered upon it. H.

6-9. The wagons and oxen were made over to the Levites for their respective services, in the transportation of the tabernacle. The Gershonites had chiefly to do with the lighter upholstery of the tabernacle, which could be put up in wrappings and made to occupy little room; whereas the Merarites had to do with its more unmanageable carpentry, its boards and bars and pillars. The Kohathites had no wagons or oxen assigned to them—they having to do with the furniture of the sanctuary, or holy of holies, which had the special honor put upon them of being borne on men’s shoulders. The different parts of Scripture will be found to hang well together, and the more we examined the more shall we discover of that consistency which is the index of truth. T. C.—“Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon according to their service, and four wagons and eight ox-n he gave unto the sons of Merari according to their service.” Why twice as many wagons and oxen to Merari as to Gershon? No reason is avowed. Yet Nu. 4 shows that the sons of Gershon had to bear all the lighter part of the furniture of the tabernacle. But the sons of Merari had to bear all the cumbrous and heavy part of the materials of which the framework of the tabernacle was constructed. And hence it is easy to see why more oxen and wagons were assigned to the one family than to the other. Is chance at the bottom of all this, or cunning contrivance, or truth and only truth? Blunt.

Offerings of Utensils for the Altars, and of Animals for Sacrifice at the Dedication of the Altar of Burnt-offering (Nu. 7 : 12-88).

In the order assigned, the tribes themselves presented these gifts through their chiefs. The twelve offerings are strictly alike, and had been arranged and prepared previously. They were offered, however, on twelve separate days, and the narrative describing each severally at length with unaltered language reflects somewhat of the stately solemnity which marked the repetition of the same ceremonial day by day. The sacrifices brought by each prince were offered on the day on which they were presented; the chargers, bowls, and spoons being preserved for the future use of the sanctuary. Espin.

The offerings of all the princes were the same in kind, number, and value, to prevent emulation among the tribes, and to show that they were all equally interested in the altar and acceptable to the Divine Majesty. The offering of each consisted of one silver basin, for receiving the parts of the several sacrifices, weighing one hundred and thirty shekels or about sixty-five ounces; one silver bowl, to hold the blood, wine, or flour, of seventy shekels or about thirty-five ounces weight—both of these being full of flour and oil; one gold spoon to take up the incense, full of incense, weighing ten shekels or about five ounces; a burnt-offering consisting of a bullock, a ram, and a lamb; a sin-offering of a goat; and an eucharistic or peace-offering consisting of two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five lambs, with meal-offerings of bread and cakes annexed to them: the priests, princes, and as many of the people as were invited being to feast on their share of the last-named sacrifice. Thus magnificently did the tribes of Israel, in a religious festival of twelve days’ continuance, declare their reverence toward God, and an exemplary liberality in providing for his ministry and worship. Pyle.

89. Moses heard the Voice speaking to him from above the mercy-seat.** Thus was the promise of Ex. 25 : 20-22 fulfilled ; and that as an immediate response on the part of God to the cheerful readiness with which the tribes had made their offerings, and supplied everything needful for the holy place and its service. All being now complete as God had appointed, and the camp purified from defilements, God meets Moses the mediator of the people, not as before on the peak of Sinai far away, but in their very midst, in the dwelling-place which he henceforth vouchsafed to tenant. Espin.—From henceforward God delivered His will to Moses in an audible voice from the mercy-seat, and conversed with him in the most clear and familiar manner upon all necessary and important occasions. Pyle.—As God gave oracular answers from this place, and spoke to Moses face to face, hence the place was called the ORACLE, or speaking place. And as this mercy-seat represented our blessed Redeemer, so the apostle says that God who had at sundry times and in divers manners SPOKEN in time past to the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days SPOKEN unto us by his Son. Hence the incarnated Christ is the true oracle in and by whom God speaks unto man. A. C.

CONSECRATION OF AARON AND HIS SONS : WASHING AND ROBING, ANOINTING WITH OIL AND SPRINKLING WITH SACRIFICIAL BLOOD. TABERNACLE AND FURNITURE, ALTAR AND LAVER ANOINTED WITH OIL. THE ALTAR SPRINKLED WITH BLOOD. JEHOVAH’S PROMISE TO SANCTIFY TABERNACLE, ALTAR, AND PRIEST.