Numbers - A Journey Through the Wilderness , Sarah Barry
OFFERINGS AT THE TABERNACLE
Passage: Numbers 7:1~89  
Key verse: 89
Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle
7 When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle,(A) he anointed(B) and consecrated it and all its furnishings.(C) He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils.(D) 2 Then the leaders of Israel,(E) the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted,(F) made offerings. 3 They brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered carts(G) and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.
4 The Lord said to Moses, 5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man’s work requires.”
6 So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites,(H) as their work required, 8 and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites,(I) as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. 9 But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites,(J) because they were to carry on their shoulders(K) the holy things, for which they were responsible.
10 When the altar was anointed,(L) the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication(M) and presented them before the altar. 11 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar.”
12 The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon(N) son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.
13 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels[a] and one silver sprinkling bowl(O) weighing seventy shekels,[b](P) both according to the sanctuary shekel,(Q) each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;(R) 14 one gold dish(S) weighing ten shekels,[c](T) filled with incense;(U) 15 one young bull,(V) one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;(W) 16 one male goat for a sin offering[d];(X) 17 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering.(Y) This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.(Z)
18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar,(AA) the leader of Issachar, brought his offering.
19 The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 20 one gold dish(AB) weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 21 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 22 one male goat for a sin offering; 23 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.
24 On the third day, Eliab son of Helon,(AC) the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering.
25 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 26 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 27 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 28 one male goat for a sin offering; 29 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.
30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur,(AD) the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering.
31 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 32 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 33 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 34 one male goat for a sin offering; 35 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.
36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,(AE) the leader of the people of Simeon, brought his offering.
37 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 38 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 39 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 40 one male goat for a sin offering; 41 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel,(AF) the leader of the people of Gad, brought his offering.
43 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 44 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 45 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 46 one male goat for a sin offering; 47 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.
48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud,(AG) the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering.
49 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 50 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 51 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 52 one male goat for a sin offering; 53 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.(AH)
54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,(AI) the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering.
55 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 56 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 57 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 58 one male goat for a sin offering; 59 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.
60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni,(AJ) the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering.
61 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 62 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 63 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 64 one male goat for a sin offering; 65 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.
66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai,(AK) the leader of the people of Dan, brought his offering.
67 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 68 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 69 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 70 one male goat for a sin offering; 71 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.
72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Okran,(AL) the leader of the people of Asher, brought his offering.
73 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 74 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 75 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 76 one male goat for a sin offering; 77 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Okran.
78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan,(AM) the leader of the people of Naphtali, brought his offering.
79 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 80 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 81 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 82 one male goat for a sin offering; 83 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.
84 These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed:(AN) twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls(AO) and twelve gold dishes.(AP) 85 Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels,[e] according to the sanctuary shekel.(AQ) 86 The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel.(AR) Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels.[f] 87 The total number of animals for the burnt offering(AS) came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering.(AT) Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering.(AU) 88 The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering(AV) came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs(AW) a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.(AX)
89 When Moses entered the tent of meeting(AY) to speak with the Lord,(AZ) he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover(BA) on the ark of the covenant law.(BB) In this way the Lord spoke to him.
Footnotes
- Numbers 7:13 That is, about 3 1/4 pounds or about 1.5 kilograms; also elsewhere in this chapter
- Numbers 7:13 That is, about 1 3/4 pounds or about 800 grams; also elsewhere in this chapter
- Numbers 7:14 That is, about 4 ounces or about 115 grams; also elsewhere in this chapter
- Numbers 7:16 Or purification offering; also elsewhere in this chapter
- Numbers 7:85 That is, about 60 pounds or about 28 kilograms
- Numbers 7:86 That is, about 3 pounds or about 1.4 kilograms
Cross references
- Numbers 7:1 : Ex 40:17
- Numbers 7:1 : S Ex 30:26
- Numbers 7:1 : S Ex 40:9
- Numbers 7:1 : ver 84, 88; Ex 40:10; 2Ch 7:9
- Numbers 7:2 : Nu 1:5-16
- Numbers 7:2 : Nu 1:19
- Numbers 7:3 : Ge 45:19; 1Sa 6:7-14; 1Ch 13:7
- Numbers 7:7 : Nu 4:24-26, 28
- Numbers 7:8 : Nu 4:31-33
- Numbers 7:9 : Nu 4:4
- Numbers 7:9 : Nu 4:15
- Numbers 7:10 : ver 1; S Ex 29:36
- Numbers 7:10 : 2Ch 7:9
- Numbers 7:12 : S Nu 1:7
- Numbers 7:13 : S Ex 27:3
- Numbers 7:13 : ver 85
- Numbers 7:13 : S Ex 30:13; Lev 27:3-7
- Numbers 7:13 : Lev 2:1; Nu 6:15; 15:4
- Numbers 7:14 : ver 20; 1Ki 7:50; 2Ki 25:14; 2Ch 4:22; 24:14
- Numbers 7:14 : ver 86
- Numbers 7:14 : S Ex 25:6
- Numbers 7:15 : Ex 24:5; 29:3; Nu 28:11
- Numbers 7:15 : Lev 1:3
- Numbers 7:16 : Lev 4:3
- Numbers 7:17 : Lev 3:1
- Numbers 7:17 : Nu 1:7
- Numbers 7:18 : S Nu 1:8
- Numbers 7:20 : S ver 14
- Numbers 7:24 : S Nu 1:9
- Numbers 7:30 : S Nu 1:5
- Numbers 7:36 : S Nu 1:6
- Numbers 7:42 : S Nu 1:14
- Numbers 7:48 : S Nu 1:10
- Numbers 7:53 : S Nu 1:10
- Numbers 7:54 : S Nu 1:10
- Numbers 7:60 : S Nu 1:11
- Numbers 7:66 : S Nu 1:12
- Numbers 7:72 : S Nu 1:13
- Numbers 7:78 : S Nu 1:15
- Numbers 7:84 : ver 1, 10
- Numbers 7:84 : S Nu 4:14
- Numbers 7:84 : ver 14
- Numbers 7:85 : ver 13
- Numbers 7:86 : ver 13
- Numbers 7:87 : ver 15
- Numbers 7:87 : ver 13
- Numbers 7:87 : ver 16
- Numbers 7:88 : ver 17
- Numbers 7:88 : Ge 32:14
- Numbers 7:88 : S ver 1, 10
- Numbers 7:89 : S Ex 40:2
- Numbers 7:89 : S Ex 29:42
- Numbers 7:89 : S Ex 16:34; Ps 80:1; 99:1
- Numbers 7:89 : Nu 3:31
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Source:  BibleGateway
When the altar was dedicated, each of the twelve tribal leaders brought an offering. Each brought the same items. The bowls and plates, the grain and oil and incense and the animals were all used in making burnt offerings on the altar. The burnt offerings were called fellowship or peace offerings. The blood shed on the altar was for the forgiveness of sin, which brings peace with God and enables sinful man to have fellowship with him. The LORD confirmed his Presence when he spoke to Moses. In this way, the tabernacle and the nation were truly dedicated to the LORD.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Presence with us. Help me to hear your voice and live as a consecrated person for your sake.
One Word: Live in God’s Presence