Chapter Text
Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle
And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;
2That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered:
3And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.
4And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
5Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.
6And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites.
7Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service:
8And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
9But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.
The Offerings of Each Tribe
10And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.
11And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.
12And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:
13And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
14One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense:
15One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
16One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
17And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
18On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer:
19He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
20One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense:
21One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
22One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
23And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
24On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer:
25His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
26One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
27One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
28One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
29And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
30On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer:
31His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
32One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
33One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
34One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
35And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
36On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer:
37His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
38One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
39One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
40One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
41And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
42On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered:
43His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
44One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
45One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
46One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
47And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
48On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered:
49His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
50One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
51One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
52One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
53And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
54On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh:
55His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
56One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
57One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
58One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
59And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
60On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered:
61His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
62One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
63One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
64One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
65And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
66On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered:
67His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
68One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
69One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
70One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
71And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
72On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:
73His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
74One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
75One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
76One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
77And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.
78On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered:
79His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
80One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
81One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
82One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
83And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
Summary of the Offerings
84This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold:
85Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
86The golden spoons were twelve , full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels.
87All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve , the lambs of the first year twelve , with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve .
88And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.
89And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.
Summary
The law of the Nazirite vow is given. A man or woman who takes this vow must abstain from wine and grape products, must not cut their hair, and must avoid contact with the dead. If accidentally defiled, a purification process restores the vow. Upon completion, the Nazirite offers prescribed sacrifices and shaves their consecrated hair. The Aaronic blessing is given: the Lord bless thee and keep thee.
Meaning
The Nazirite vow demonstrates that any Israelite, not just a Levite, could pursue deeper consecration to God. This voluntary devotion reveals that holiness is not reserved for a priestly class but is available to all who seek the Lord with their whole heart.
The Aaronic blessing that closes this chapter is one of Scripture's most beloved passages. It promises God's active protection, gracious favor, and lasting peace upon His people.
Background
Notable Nazirites in Scripture include Samson, Samuel, and likely John the Baptist. The vow could be temporary or lifelong. The Aaronic blessing, still used in Jewish and Christian worship today, was inscribed on silver scrolls found near Jerusalem dating to the seventh century BC.
Chapter Outline
- vv. 1-9Wagons and Oxen Given to the Levites
- vv. 10-11The LORD Orders the Dedication Schedule
- vv. 12-17Day One: Nahshon of Judah
- vv. 18-23Day Two: Nethaneel of Issachar
- vv. 24-29Day Three: Eliab of Zebulun
- vv. 30-47Days Four Through Six: Reuben, Simeon, and Gad
- vv. 48-65Days Seven Through Nine: Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin
- vv. 66-83Days Ten Through Twelve: Dan, Asher, and Naphtali
- vv. 84-88Summary of the Altar Dedication Totals
- vv. 89God Speaks from the Mercy Seat
Key Verses
“And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;”— 7:1
This verse marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history—the completion and consecration of the tabernacle, God's dwelling place among His people. It connects the instructions of Exodus with their fulfillment.
“But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.”— 7:9
This verse underscores the sacred weight of the holiest articles. The Kohathites received no wagons because the ark and holy furnishings required the reverence of being carried personally, a detail later violated with tragic consequence (2 Samuel 6:6-7).
“And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.”— 7:89
The climactic verse of the chapter: after all the offerings are given, God speaks. The mercy seat becomes the place of divine communication, confirming that the tabernacle has achieved its purpose—God dwelling with and speaking to His people.
People & Places
People
- Moses — Leader of Israel who set up the tabernacle and distributed the offerings to the Levites.
- Nahshon son of Amminadab — Prince of the tribe of Judah and first to present his dedication offering at the altar.
- Nethaneel son of Zuar — Prince of the tribe of Issachar who offered on the second day.
- Eliab son of Helon — Prince of the tribe of Zebulun who offered on the third day.
- Elizur son of Shedeur — Prince of the tribe of Reuben who offered on the fourth day.
- Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai — Prince of the tribe of Simeon who offered on the fifth day.
- Eliasaph son of Deuel — Prince of the tribe of Gad who offered on the sixth day.
- Elishama son of Ammihud — Prince of the tribe of Ephraim who offered on the seventh day.
- Gamaliel son of Pedahzur — Prince of the tribe of Manasseh who offered on the eighth day.
- Abidan son of Gideoni — Prince of the tribe of Benjamin who offered on the ninth day.
- Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai — Prince of the tribe of Dan who offered on the tenth day.
- Pagiel son of Ocran — Prince of the tribe of Asher who offered on the eleventh day.
- Ahira son of Enan — Prince of the tribe of Naphtali who offered on the twelfth day and last to dedicate.
- Ithamar son of Aaron — Priest who oversaw the Levitical service of Merari's sons.
- Sons of Gershon — Levitical clan who received two wagons and four oxen for transporting tabernacle coverings.
- Sons of Merari — Levitical clan who received four wagons and eight oxen for transporting the heavy structural frames.
- Sons of Kohath — Levitical clan who received no wagons because they bore the holiest articles on their shoulders.
Places
- The Tabernacle — The newly consecrated portable sanctuary where God's presence dwelt among Israel in the wilderness.
- The Altar — The altar of burnt offering, dedicated over twelve days through the princes' offerings.
- The Mercy Seat — The golden cover atop the ark of the testimony, between the two cherubim, from which God spoke to Moses.
Prophecy & Fulfillment
The mercy seat (v. 89) from which God speaks to Moses foreshadows the atoning work of Christ. In Romans 3:25, Paul uses the same Greek term (hilasterion) for Christ as for the mercy seat, indicating that Jesus is the true place of propitiation where God meets sinful humanity. Nahshon of Judah offering first (v. 12) also subtly reinforces the preeminence of Judah's line, from which the Messiah would come (Genesis 49:10).
Devotional
Numbers 7 records twelve leaders bringing identical offerings—yet God honors each one individually, day by day, name by name. No gift was too small to record or too repetitive to matter. In our own lives, faithful obedience rarely feels dramatic. The daily disciplines of prayer, generosity, and service may seem routine, yet God sees each act distinctly.
Notice too that the chapter ends not with human giving but with God speaking (v. 89). Our offerings open the door to communion. When we bring what we have to the Lord—however ordinary—He meets us and makes Himself known.
Literary Style
This chapter is liturgical catalogue—a highly structured, repetitive inventory of dedicatory offerings. The twelve nearly identical offering accounts use formulaic repetition characteristic of ancient Near Eastern temple records. This deliberate redundancy is not careless; it honors each tribe's contribution individually. The chapter shifts at verse 89 to a brief but theologically climactic narrative of divine speech.