Numbers 7
12 Sep 2026 - Theology
Offerings for the Tabernacle
Numbers 7:1-3 - “And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle… That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes… 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.”
The wagons and oxen were brought as an offering to the Lord in order to carry the Tabernacle in its travels. Two wagons and four oxen were given to the sons of Gershon (7). Four wagons and eight oxen were given to the sons of Merari (8). The sons of Kohath received no wagons or oxen - their assigned duty was to carry the most sacred furnishings of the tabernacle on their shoulders using poles (9).
Afterward the prince (leader) of each tribe brought their offerings. Each leader brought exactly the same offering:
- a silver bowl weighing 130 shekels
- a silver basin weighing 70 shekels (filled with a meal offering of fine flour and oil)
- a gold ladle of 10 shekels (filled with incense)
- a bull
- a ram
- a lamb (for burnt offerings)
- a goat (for a sin offering)
- two oxen, five rams, five billy-goats, and five yearling lambs (as peace offerings)
The first leader brought his gifts on the first day of the dedication. The parade of gifts lasted for twelve days, with a different leader bringing his offering each day (for a total of 12 leaders, one from each tribe of Israel).
Each day, each leader, and each gift is recorded and listed separately. Modern Bible scholars think this was the work of an accountant, a priestly scribe whose job it was to record everything exactly and in precise words. Commentators say that even though the gifts were all the same, the long list proves that each leader and each tribe wanted to give these gifts freely, from the heart.
Numbers 7:88 - “…This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.”
The Voice
Numbers 7:89 - “And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him [the Lord], 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 [the Lord] spake unto him [Moses].”
Once again (see Exodus 25 and Numbers 2) we come to confusion about the Tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting, and how each was used. In Exodus 33, we read that Moses pitched the Tent of Meeting outside the camp:
Exodus 33:7-9,11 (NASB) - “Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and… gaze after Moses until he entered the tent. Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the Lord would speak with Moses… So the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend…”
But in Exodus 40, it seems that the Tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting are the same thing! Notice here the cloud keeps Moses out:
Exodus 40:34-35 - “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”
Here in Numbers 7:89, it seems that Moses would enter the Tent of Meeting whenever he wished to speak with the Lord. He would hear the Lord’s voice from above the ark of the covenant (which we know is in the Tabernacle). Clearly, many different stories were woven together in the Torah!
References
- The Hebrew - Greek Key Study Bible (KJV Version)
- The Torah Portion-by-Portion by Rabbi Seymour Rossel (2007)