Numbers 7

Chap. VII. Ver. 1—89. The offerings of the different tribes, and their total.—We have here the offerings of the twelve tribes by their princes, or chiefs, as the word is better rendered by Dr. Boothroyd and others; for the term “princes” seems improper where in fact there was no king. They were undoubtedly the heads of the several tribes, and are so called both here, and in (Numbers 1:4). The wagons, or covered carts, were given to such of the Levites as had to carry the heaviest and most bulky articles belonging to the tabernacle. In the summary of these offerings, it appears that they were valuable as well as numerous: those who possessed riches were willing to “make themselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness.”

((Luke 16:9).) Dr. Clarke calculates the gold and silver at above 3125 dollars. The cattle for burnt offerings amounted to twelve bullocks and twenty-four small cattle. Besides that, for the peace-offering there were twenty-four bullocks, sixty rams, sixty he-goats, and sixty lambs, on which the priests and people together kept a feast unto the Lord. From the number of cattle continually offered in sacrifice, it may justly be inferred that the wilderness through which they travelled, though uncultivated and destitute of human habitations, was not devoid of pasturage. The offerings here named must be distinguished from those of individuals among the people, which are mentioned in the 35th and 36th chapters of Exodus.

But to us the most interesting part of this chapter is the conclusion, relative to the manner in which Moses conversed with the Lord in the tabernacle, which merits our particular attention. (Leviticus 1:1). we read that the Lord spake unto Moses out of the tabernacle of the congregation; here it appears that Moses went into the tabernacle, and the voice came from the most

Notes on the verses

See his account of the death of Dido. J— sah Ske ia vt HAP. VII, Ver. 1. This transaction is calculated to have tak[en place on] the second day of the second month of the second year after [the exodus]. Ver. 2. Who were (Heb. “* who stood”) over them.—That is probably, to see them correctly numbered. So the LXX. Ver. 7. Sons of Gershon.—[The Gershonites being able men, had the less burdensome things to carry; for they carried only the curtains, coverings, and scrip; hence ap iv. 25, 40.] And although this was a cumbersome carriage, and they needed wagons, yet it was not a [large number], and they needed few. Ver. 8. Four wagons.—[Though the Merarites were the most numerous they had the greatest burden, namely, the boards, bars, pillars, and [other parts] to carry, (ch. iv, 31, 32, 48.) Therefore they had double the number of wagons, [which] had [been] assigned [to the others]. Ver. 10. Princes.—[Every prince, or chief, offered in the behalf, and doubtless at the expense, of his whole tribe.]—Bagster. Ver. 17. Offering.—[It is worthy of remark, that the different tribes are represented here as bringing their offerings precisely in the same order in which they encamped about the tabernacle, (see ch. xi. 10;) beginning at the East, then proceeding to the South, then to the West, and ending with the North, according to the course of the sun. Their order may be thus viewed: EAST. WEST. 1. Judah: Nahshon. Ephraim: Elishama. [The] ing [fewest in number of] 2. Issachar: Nethaneel. 8. Manasseh: Gamaliel. 3. Zebulun: Eliab. 9. Benjamin: Abidan. SOUTH. NORTH. 4. Reuben: Elizur. 10. Dan: Ahiezer. 5. Simeon: Shelumiel. 11. Asher: Pagiel. 6. Gad: Eliasaph. 12. Naphtali: Akira. Thus God evinces that he “is not the author of confusion, but of peace.”* ((1 Corinthians 14:33).) It is also worthy of remark, that every tribe offers the same kind of offering, and in the same quantity, to show, that as every tribe was equally indebted to God for its support, so each should testify an equal sense of obligation. Besides, the vessels were all sacrificial vessels, and the animals were all clean animals, such as were proper for sacrifices; and, therefore, every thing was intended to point out, that the people were to be a holy people, fully dedicated to God, and that God was to dwell among them.

Thus, as the priests, altar, &c. were anointed, and the tabernacle dedicated, so the people, by this offering, became consecrated to God. Therefore, every act here was a religious act.—Bagster. Ver. 31. Charger.—{Karraa, in Arabic, karan, from kaara, to be deep, a large deep dish or bowl. It appears, by the metal of which this charger and bowl were made, that they were for the use of the altar of burnt-offerings in the outer court; for all the vessels of the sanctuary were of gold. It was probably used for receiving the flesh of the sacrifices upon which the priests feasted, or the fine flour for the meat-offerings.—Bovol.—Mizrak, from zarak, to sprinkle, a bowl or basin, used in sprinkling the blood of the sacrifice.

((Exodus 38:23).)—Bagster. Ver. 35. Passover offering.—{These sacrifices were more numerous than the burnt-offering or the sin-offering; because the priests, the princes, and as many of the people as they invited, had a share of them, and feasted, with great rejoicing, before the Lord. This custom, as Selden observes, seems to have been imitated by the heathen, who dedicated their altars, temples, statues, &c. with much ceremony; and the ancient Greeks with more sumptuous sacrifices. Among the Romans, they were dedicated with plays, feasting, and public donations; and at last their feasts became anniversaries, as the feast of dedication also was among the Jews, after the time of Antiochus. In this feast, there were illuminations, as expressive of the public joy.]—Bagster.

Ver. 48. On the seventh day.—Not of the week, but of the offerings; the sabbath was most probably passed over. Ver. 66. Tenth day.—When the twelve days of the dedication commenced cannot be easily determined; but the computation of F. Scacchus seems highly probable. He supposed that the tabernacle being erected the first day of the first month of the second year after the departure from Egypt, seven days were spent in the consecration of it, and the altar, &c.; and that, on the eighth day, Moses began to consecrate Aaron and his sons, which lasted seven days more. Then, on the fourteenth day of that month, was the feast day of unleavened bread; which God commanded to be observed in the first month, (ch. ix.,) and which lasted till the 22d. The rest of the month, we may well suppose, was spent in giving, receiving, and delivering the laws.