Numbers 7

Vcr. 1. jCjlND it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set tip the tabernacle. Which he did upon the first day of the first month of the second year, after they came out of Egypt, (Exod. xl. 17, 18.) And had anointed it, and sanctified it, &c] Sco Lev. viii. 10, 11.; where it is said, he anointed also (as it here likewise follows) all belonging to it: which being seven days in doing, as appears from the thirty-fifth verse of that chapter, it is evident that the word day doth not here precisely denote the very day on which the tabernacle was erected; but more largely, at or about that timo (as it must necessarily signify, ver. 84. of this chapter), after he had set up the tabernacle; and not only sanctified and anointed it, but received orders about sacrifices, and anointed the priests (with the rest mentioned in the book of Leviticus), and also had numbered the people; ordered their encampment, and the encampment of the Levites; and given them their charge about the tabernacle. In short, when Moses had done all the things mentioned hitherto in this book, then followed this dedication of the altar. And whosoever will compare this chapter with the second, may easily be convinced that this offering of the princes was not made till the camp was formed, and the tribes ranged under their several standards: for the princes’ offer held in the same.order and method that they are disposed there. serve: and that the form and structure of the* ark might not be discomposed, as Maimonidcs adds, (More Ncvochim, par. iii. cap. 45.) nor the ephod and the breast-plate ruffled; as they might have been by the shaking of a waggon. Yet (hey all observe, this was not so peculiar to the sons of Kohath, but that the priests, the sons of Aaron, upon some special occasions, carried the ark; particularly when they went over Jordan, (Josh. iii. 3.) and at the siege of Jericho;.at both which times a great miracle was to be wrought; and when Zadok and Abiathar carried it back to Jerusalem, 2 Sam. xv. 29. (though that, I observed before, may be otherwise interpreted, and there seems no reason why they should carry it back, when the Levites brought it, ver. 24.) and when Solomon’s temple was built, (1 Kings viii. G.) For the Levites might not go into the holy place, and therefore it was then carried by the priests. in their contributions towards it; and that it was offered in his own and their names. For a burnt-offering.] This is first mentioned, as being the most ancient sort of sacrifice, long before we read of any other; and being an acknowledgment of God’s sovereign dominion over all.

Numbers 7:2

TJiat the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers. Mentioned chap. i. 5. 16. And were over them that were numbered.] This evidently shews that this offering of the princes was after the numbering of the people. Offered.] In the order that is set down in this chapter.

Numbers 7:3

And they brought their offering. The LXX. translate the Hebrew word korbanam, to Swpov airwv, their gift, or their present, which they made to God; which consisted of several things, for divers uses. Before the Lord.] i. e. At the door of the tabernacle; as it is explained in the end of the verse. Six covered waggons, and twelve oxen.] In the first place they made a present for the service of the tabernacle itself; that such parts of it as were most cumbersome might be more conveniently carried; and that they might be free from dust, rain, or hail. The waggons were covered; being not ordinary carriages, but such as.were used by great persons. So the LXX. understood it, who translate the Hebrew word tzabbim, by \afnr()yn, in Isa. lxvi. 20. and here afxa^ag \a[nrr)viKag. Now as Pollux reckons Xafiiriyvr) among the waggons and chariots then used, so Hesychius tells us (as learned men have observed) it signifies such waggons as illustrious men and women used; and that they were covered above. A waggon for two of the princes.] This shews plainly enough, that they were sumptuous, and had, perhaps, rich coverings; in that two of the great men joined in the present of one waggon. And for each one an ox.] That there might be a pair of oxen to draw each waggon. And it is probable, those oxen were yoked together, which were offered by those two princes, who joined in offering one waggon. And they brought them before the tabernacle.] Set them before the entrance of it.

Numbers 7:4

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. It seems Moses did not accept these presents, till he had orders* from the Lord, in the next words.

Numbers 7:5

Take it of them. Receive their presents, as ac- - ceptablc to me. That they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.] He directs their use: which was to carry the tabernacle, when they removed from one place to another. And thou shalt give them to the Levites.] In order to which, he directs him to bestow them upon the Levites, who had the charge of that carriage. To every man according to his service.] In such proportions as the things they had to carry required.

Numbers 7:6

And Moses took the waggons and oxen, and gave them to the Levites. In such proportions as follow in the next two verses.

Numbers 7:7

Two ivaggons and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, according to their service. As they were fewest in number that could do service, so they had less burdensome things to carry than the sons of Merari, (chap. iv. 25, 40.) and therefore had fewer carriages allowed them. Vcr. 8. And four waggons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according to their service.] They were the most numerous, and had the greatest burden; and therefore had allowance of more carriages and oxen, (chap, iv. 31, 32. 48.) Under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.] Who had the inspection and care both of the Gershonites and Merarites, (chap. iv. 28. 33.)

Numbers 7:9

But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none. For the reason that follows. Because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was, that they should bear upon.their shoulders.]Thc~LX.X. translate it more exactly, because they had tjie service of the holy thing, (tov aytov, as the ark is called, chap, iv.4.) they shall carry it on their shoulders: which was for the greater honour and dignity of’ the ark, and of the law contained in it; as Maimonides, It. Levi ben Gersom, and others, ob-

Numbers 7:10

And the priests offered.’) They brought the offerings, which they desired might bo presented unto God. For the dedicating of. the altar. The Hebrew word chanac, which, in one place of the Pentateuch, signifies simply to begin to use, or enjoy a house, (Detit. xx.6.) here, and ia several 6tlier places, Signified the fittst application and addiction of any thing to sacred tiScs, or to the Divine service; 16 -which it had been “designed and consecrated. And this was done with some certain 1 solemn words and actions, as Mr. Sclden observes, lib. iii. de Synedr. cap. 13. n. 1; and cap 15. n. 3. And so, among the Latins, the word inchoare, when applied to sacred things, signifies, to perfect or consummate; as Servius observes upon iEneid. vi. And both civil atid sacred initiations were accompanied with great joy and gladness. But this is not to be understood, as if the dedication of the altaT was the setting” of it apart,* and sanctifying it for the service of God, (which had been done before, and seven days spent therein, Exod. xxix. 27. Levit. viii. 11.) but, as the word properly signifies, the beginning to use it, after it had been so sanctified. -In the day that it tvas anointed.] At the time that it was set apart; and all other things ordered for the safeguard of the tabernacle. (See ver. 1.) Even the princes offered tUeir offering.] Presented their gifts’ (as the LXX..translate it), which they desired God would accept upon this great occasion.,,*>.,, i . % Before the. altar.] At the door of the tabernacle, near unto which the altar stood, (Exod. xl. 6.) for he speaks of the altar of burnt-offerings.:» a -v. A, t -u;. t:\.. -j. Ver. Jl. And the Lord saidtinto Moses, They shall offer their offering.] Here again Kasi observes, that Moses would not receive their offering till he knew the tarind of God; who directed in what manner and order their gifts should be offered to him..",;.., Each prince on his day, for the dedication of the altar.) This made the dedication a very long solemnity, which continued twelve days. When these twelve days began, it is not easy to determine; but it seems to me a very reasonablccomputation,‘which Fortunatus Scacchus hath made of this whole business, Myrothcc. Sacr. Elacochrysm.. lib. ii". cap. 74, where he supposes, that the tabernacle being erected the first day of the first month of the second year, after they came out of Egypt, seven days were spent in the consecration of it and of the aUar, &c. And on the eighth day Moses began to consecrate Aaron, and his sons, which lasted seven days longer. Tiien the fifteenth day of that month was the first day of unleavened bread, which God commanded (as wo read here, chap, ix.) to bo observed in the first month, and lasted till tho two-and-twentieth. The rest of the month we may well suppose was spent in giving, receiving, and delivering the laws mentioned in tho book of Leviticus. After which, on the first day of the second month, he began to number the people, according tQ the command in the beginning of this book, which may be supposed to have lasted three days. And then on tho fourth the Levites were numbered: on the next day we may suppose they were offered to God, and given unto the priests: on the sixth day they were expiated and consecrated (as we read in the next chapter); and on the seventh day their several charges w r ere parted among them, (of w r hich we read chap, i v.) After which the princes, he supposes, began to offer upon the eighth day of the second month, for the dedication of the altar, which lasted till the nineteenth day inclusively: and on the twentieth day of tliis month they removed (as we read chap. x. 11, 12.) from Sinai to the wilderness of Paran.

Numbers 7:12

And he that offered his offering the first day. By God’s order, no doubt. Was Nalishon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe ofJudah.] He held the principal place among the Israelites, being the?idsi, the prince ot captain (as we translate it, Numb. ii. 3.) of the children of Judah, who had the first standard. And yet he alone, of all the twelve great men here mentioned, is not called nasi,, prince of Judah, as all the rest are called princes of. their tribes, (ver. 18. 24. 30, &c;) but simply Nalishon of the tribe of Judah. The Jews give several reasons of it: but perhaps it w~as, because he offered first, which was honour enough; and there needed no more to be said of him.

Numbers 7:13

And his offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver boivl, &c. It appears by the metal that this charger and bowl we’re of, that they were for the use of the altar of burnt-offerings in the outward court, for all the vessels of the sanctuary were of gold. And I take this charger (or broad dish, or platter) to have been offered, for receiving the flesh Which was offered at the altar, or the fine flour for the meat-offerings. And the bowl received tho blood, or was.usedfor pouring out wine. j..,. tM u, Both of them were full of fine flour. mingled with oil, for a meat-offeriftg.] Which was to attend upon the burnt-offering and the peace-offering, mentioned. ver. 15. 17. See chap. iy.7. where. I observed, it was not-difficult to procure this fine flour in the wilderness. t,5 * - "

Numbers 7:14

One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense. Both the metal of which it was made, and that which was in it, shew this spoon was for the use of the golden altar in the Sanctuary: which may incline one to think, that both altars were now dedicated; that is, first began to be used for the service of the whole congregation. (See ver. 88.)

Numbers 7:15

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year. There arc so many sacrific9S mentioned, here and in thfc.two following vctscs (no less than twenty-one in all), that, together with the silver and gold plate>.thcy look like too great a present to be made out of one man’s private estate: and therefore some have thought, that the rest of the great men of tho tribe of Judah joined With Nalishon

Numbers 7:16

One kid of the goats for a sin-offering. This in all likelihood was first offered, though the other be first mentioned. For in the next chapter we find the burnt-offering enjoined in the first place; but the sin-offering offered before it, (chap. vlii. 8. 12.) The like I observed before, (chap. vi. 16. see there.)

Numbers 7:17

And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, Jive rams, five he-goats, five lambs of the first year. These sacrifices were more numerous than the burnt-offering or the sin-offering; because the priests, and the princes, and as many of the people as they invited, had their share of them, and feasted before the Lord upon them, with great rejoicing: which custom, as Mr. Selden observes, flowed from hence to the gentiles, who dedicated their altaTS, and temples, and statues, 8cc. with much ceremony; and the ancient Greeks, TroXvTiXzarlpoig Itpdoig, with more sumptuous sacrifices. See lib. ill. de Synedriis, cap. 14. num. 3. where he also shews, how they were dedicated among the Romans with plays, and feasting, and public largesses; and at last their feasts became anniversary, as the feast of dedication among the Jews was, after the times of Antiochus, (num. 6, 7.) In which feast there was AvxvoKaia, illuminations (as we now speak), by setting up of candles, or lamps, in token of joy, (cap. 13. num. 9.) This teas the offering ofNahshon, the son ofAmminadab.] And was the pattern which all the rest followed. -

Numbers 7:18

On thesetond day.) Their offerings were thus distributed, to be offered on several days, that confusion might be avoided; and that every tribe might distinctly express their devotion to God, and be graciously accepted by him; and the solemnity be made the more remarkable, by continuing it so long as twelve days. For which reason the feast of dedication, after Mattathias had purged the temple and the altar, after the profanation of them by Antiochus, was kept eight days by the Jews in following times; and this Parascha (as they call it) of the law, from chap. vi. 22. to chap. viii. 4. of this book, was wont to be read at that feast; as the same Mr. Selden observes, (cap. 13. n. 7.) As among the Romans, he observes, (cap. 14. n.7.) there was a feast of like nature kept six days.’ Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer.] This tribe, and Zebulun, being under the standard of Judah, are the next that offer. And so they proceed in the same order; Reuben, and those under his standard offering next; because they encamped next to them, (ver. 30. 36. 42, &c.)

Numbers 7:19

He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty shekels, &c. It may be observed, once for all, that there is no difference in the offerings of these princes; but all offered plate of equal weight, and an equal number of sacrifices, without the least variation: either by common agreement, or by the Divine appointment; that the vanity of vying one with another might be prevented; and none might brag of their outdoing their brethren; and all might be confident that they were equally interested ih the altar, and accepted by the Divine Majesty. - *

Numbers 7:24

On the third day Eliab the son ofllelon, &c. Here it may be observed, that Moses thought fit to set down distinctly, and at length, the offerings of the princes of every tribe (as he doth here, and in the following part of this chapter), though they were the very same, without any difference; that an honourable mention being made of every one apart, none might think themselves in the least neglected.

Numbers 7:30

On the fourth dayElizur, &c. There is nothing new to be noted of him, or any of the rest; because the same thing is repeated, for the reason forementioned.

Numbers 7:48

On the seventh day Elisliama, &c. offered^. This solemnity was not interrupted by Ihe sabbath; but the offerings continued then, as upon other days.

Numbers 7:84

TJiiswas the dedication of the altar. By these oblations and sacrifices; which xvcre. simple and plain, though costly and magnificent. With which the gentiles were not content, but used sometimes barbarous rites in their dedications; as appears by their tanrobolia and criobolia in honour of the mother of the gods, &c. (See Selden in the forenamed book, cap. 14. n. 8, 9.) In the day when it was anointed.] The dedication lasting twelve days, it is apparent the word day, in this place, necessarily signifies the time (were it mo/eor less), wherein a thing was done; as I observed ver. 1. and see ver. 88.: By the princes of Israel.] From whose examples princes &nd great men should learn (as Conradus Pellicanus well applies all this), “to be devoutly religious; and to possess the fear and reverence of the Lord God in their breasts:*to | be strong in faith; far from covetousness; unanimous in; their endeavours to do honour to God; to give a good example of faith and good works to others; to seek the profit of their subjects; assist the servants of God; lend their helping hand to the proficiency of true piety; provide the ministers of tlie church with all things necessary, that religion be not neglected and contemned by their poverty \ for the sake of God whom they serve, to do them honour by word and deed; and follow their godly admonitions, &c. This is a profitable allegory (saith he) of this history;’ and we need not seek for one more ingenious. As for those whd highly value the allegorical sense of all these things, habent alios qui gustui suo consilient et curiositati; they’ may find other commentators to please their taste, and satisfy their curiosity” Twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver boards, &c.j In these and the following words the whole sum of the oblations and sacrifices is set down by Moses; that every reader, in all future times, might see (without the trouble of casting up the account) how devout and generous their ancestors were.

Numbers 7:87

All the oxen for the burnt-offering were twelve bullocks, &c. Whether there were any prayers made for a gracious acceptance of the sacrifices, which should be hereafter made on this altar, we are not told. But the sacrifices themselves were in the nature of supplications; and it is: likely, they that offered them made their humble petitions with them. And so the gentiles always did at the dedication of their temples or altars: an instance of which is observed out of Gruter, by Fort. Scacchus and by Selden, in these words: ** Hanc tibi aram Jupiter Opt. Max. dico dedicoque uti sis volens propitius mihi collcgisque meis," &c* Which is a dedication of an altar to Jupiter, with a