Numbers 7

On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, the tent where God met with Israel, he anointed it with oil and set it apart as holy. He did the same with all its furnishings, and with the altar and all its vessels: he anointed them and set them apart.

1And 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;

NoteThe tabernacle was the portable tent-sanctuary Israel carried through the wilderness. Its construction and setting up are described at the end of Exodus, dated to the first day of the first month of the second year after leaving Egypt (about a month before the census that opens Numbers, so this chapter reaches back to an earlier moment. "Anointed" means smeared or poured over with a specially blended olive oil; to "sanctify" (KJV) is to set an object apart for exclusive use in worship, removing it from ordinary use. The "instruments" and "vessels" of the KJV are simply the furnishings and utensils) tools, pans, basins.

2Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of their families, brought an offering. These were the leaders of the tribes, the men who had been in charge of the counting of the people.

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:

NoteKJV "princes" does not mean royal sons; the Hebrew word means chiefs or leaders, the men at the head of each tribe. A "house of their fathers" is an extended family group traced from a common ancestor. "Them that were numbered" refers to the census of fighting men in Numbers 1, which these same men supervised.

3They brought their offering before the LORD: six covered wagons and twelve oxen, one wagon from every two leaders and one ox from each leader. They presented them in front of the tabernacle.

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.

NoteThe Hebrew word for these wagons occurs rarely and its exact form is uncertain; "covered" may mean roofed or awninged, or possibly litter-like. Oxen were the standard draft animals for heavy hauling.

4The LORD said to Moses,

4And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

5"Accept these gifts from them, so they can be used for the work of the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites, to each man according to the work he does."

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.

Note"Tabernacle of the congregation" (KJV) is better understood as tent of meeting, the place where God and Moses met, not a place where the congregation assembled inside.

6So Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites, the men of the tribe of Levi who cared for the tent.

6And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites.

NoteThe Levites were the descendants of Levi, one of Jacob's twelve sons. Instead of receiving territory, they were assigned the care, transport and guarding of the sanctuary.

7He gave two wagons and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, as their work required.

7Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service:

NoteGershon, Kohath and Merari were the three sons of Levi, and their descendants formed three clans with separate duties. The Gershonites carried the tabernacle's fabric: curtains, coverings, hangings and screens, bulky but light, so two wagons sufficed.

8He gave four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, as their work required. All of this was under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

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.

NoteThe Merarites carried the tabernacle's frame (the wooden boards, bars, pillars, pegs and their metal sockets) the heaviest load, hence twice as many wagons. Ithamar was Aaron's youngest surviving son; he supervised these two clans.

9But he gave none to the sons of Kohath, because the holy things they were responsible for had to be carried on their shoulders.

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.

NoteThe Kohathites were responsible for the most sacred objects (the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars) which were fitted with poles and carried by hand rather than transported on carts.

10On the day the altar was anointed, the leaders brought their gifts for its dedication. They presented their offerings in front of the altar.

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.

NoteDedication here means the ceremony inaugurating the altar for use, marking the point at which it began to function.

11The LORD said to Moses, "Each leader is to bring his offering on his own day, for the dedication of the altar."

11And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.

12The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah.

12And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:

NoteNahshon leads because the tribes present their gifts in the order of their camping arrangement set out in Numbers 2 (Judah first on the east, then Issachar and Zebulun, and so on around the camp), not in the order of the brothers' birth.

13His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both measured by the sanctuary shekel. Both were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

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:

NoteA "charger" in 1611 English is a large flat serving dish or platter, nothing to do with horses. A shekel was a unit of weight, not yet a coin; the "shekel of the sanctuary" was the official standard kept for sacred use, about 11.4 grams (two-fifths of an ounce). The platter therefore weighed roughly 1.5 kg (3¼ lb) of silver and the bowl about 800 g (1¾ lb). KJV "meat offering" is a false friend: in 1611 "meat" meant food of any kind, and this offering contained no flesh at all: it was an offering of grain, flour mixed with olive oil.

14He also brought one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

14One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense:

NoteKJV "spoon" translates a word for a shallow dish or pan, roughly the shape of a cupped hand. Incense was a blend of aromatic gum resins burned to produce fragrant smoke; ten shekels of gold is about 115 g (4 oz).

15He brought one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering.

15One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

NoteIn a burnt offering the whole animal was burned on the altar, with nothing kept back to be eaten.

16He brought one male goat for a sin offering.

16One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

Note"Kid of the goats" simply means a young male goat. The sin offering (the Hebrew term also carries the sense of a purification offering) was made to cleanse the sanctuary and the worshiper of defilement.

17And for a peace offering he brought two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

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.

NoteThe peace offering, also translated fellowship or well-being offering, was the one sacrifice shared as a meal: certain fatty portions were burned, a share went to the priests, and the rest was eaten by the person who brought it and his household.

18On the second day Nethaneel son of Zuar, the leader of the tribe of Issachar, brought his offering.

18On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer:

NoteFrom here the text repeats the identical inventory twelve times, once for each tribe, instead of saying "the same again." The full listing is deliberate: each tribe's gift is recorded in its own right, in the manner of an official register.

19What he brought was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both measured by the sanctuary shekel. Both were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

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:

20He also brought one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

20One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense:

21He brought one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering.

21One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

22He brought one male goat for a sin offering.

22One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

23And for a peace offering he brought two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethaneel son of Zuar.

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 son of Helon, the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering.

24On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer:

25His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both measured by the sanctuary shekel. Both were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

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:

26He also brought one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

26One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

27He brought one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering.

27One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

28He brought one male goat for a sin offering.

28One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

29And for a peace offering he brought two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

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 son of Shedeur, the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering.

30On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer:

31His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both measured by the sanctuary shekel. Both were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

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:

32He also brought one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

32One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

33He brought one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering.

33One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

34He brought one male goat for a sin offering.

34One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

35And for a peace offering he brought two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

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 son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the people of Simeon, brought his offering.

36On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer:

37His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both measured by the sanctuary shekel. Both were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

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:

38He also brought one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

38One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

39He brought one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering.

39One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

40He brought one male goat for a sin offering.

40One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

41And for a peace offering he brought two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

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 son of Deuel, the leader of the people of Gad, brought his offering.

42On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered:

NoteThis leader's father is called Deuel here and in Numbers 1 and 10, but Reuel in Numbers 2. The difference is a single similar-looking Hebrew letter, and ancient manuscripts and translations divide over which is original.

43His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both measured by the sanctuary shekel. Both were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

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:

44He also brought one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

44One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

45He brought one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering.

45One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

46He brought one male goat for a sin offering.

46One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

47And for a peace offering he brought two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

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 son of Ammihud, the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering.

48On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered:

49His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both measured by the sanctuary shekel. Both were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

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:

50He also brought one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

50One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

51He brought one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering.

51One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

52He brought one male goat for a sin offering.

52One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

53And for a peace offering he brought two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.

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 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering.

54On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh:

55His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both measured by the sanctuary shekel. Both were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

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:

56He also brought one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

56One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

57He brought one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering.

57One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

58He brought one male goat for a sin offering.

58One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

59And for a peace offering he brought two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

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 son of Gideoni, the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering.

60On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered:

61His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both measured by the sanctuary shekel. Both were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

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:

62He also brought one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

62One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

63He brought one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering.

63One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

64He brought one male goat for a sin offering.

64One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

65And for a peace offering he brought two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

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 son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the people of Dan, brought his offering.

66On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered:

67His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both measured by the sanctuary shekel. Both were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

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:

68He also brought one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

68One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

69He brought one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering.

69One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

70He brought one male goat for a sin offering.

70One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

71And for a peace offering he brought two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

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 son of Ocran, the leader of the people of Asher, brought his offering.

72On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:

73His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both measured by the sanctuary shekel. Both were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

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:

74He also brought one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

74One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

75He brought one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering.

75One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

76He brought one male goat for a sin offering.

76One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

77And for a peace offering he brought two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran.

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 son of Enan, the leader of the people of Naphtali, brought his offering.

78On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered:

79His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both measured by the sanctuary shekel. Both were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

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:

80He also brought one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

80One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

81He brought one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering.

81One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

82He brought one male goat for a sin offering.

82One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

83And for a peace offering he brought two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

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.

84This was the gift from the leaders of Israel for the dedication of the altar, on the day it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold dishes.

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 silver platter weighed 130 shekels and each bowl weighed 70. All the silver vessels together weighed 2,400 shekels, measured by the sanctuary shekel.

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:

NoteThe total silver comes to roughly 27 kg (about 60 lb).

86There were twelve gold dishes full of incense, each weighing ten shekels by the sanctuary shekel. All the gold in the dishes came to 120 shekels.

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.

NoteThe total gold comes to roughly 1.4 kg (about 3 lb).

87The animals for the burnt offering came to twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve male lambs a year old, along with their grain offerings, plus twelve male goats for the sin offering.

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.

88The animals for the peace offerings came to twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty male lambs a year old. This was the gift for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.

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.

89When Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim. And the LORD spoke with him.

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.

NoteThe "mercy seat" is the solid gold cover of the ark; the Hebrew word is related to the verb for wiping away or atoning, and some translators render it "cover" or "place of atonement." The ark was a gold-plated wooden chest holding the stone tablets, called the "testimony" because they recorded the terms God set out for Israel. Cherubim were winged composite figures, familiar in ancient Near Eastern art as guardians flanking a throne; "cherubims" in the KJV is a double plural, since the -im ending is already the Hebrew plural. The Hebrew of the verse leaves "to speak with him" without naming who "him" is, though the sense is that Moses went in to speak with the LORD.