The big picture
The sacred tent has been set up for Israel, the people God leads through the desert. Moses, their leader, has set it and its equipment apart for God. Tribal leaders now bring gifts for transport and worship. The Levites, the families who care for the tent, receive help suited to their work. A long list records each tribe's equal offering before Moses enters to hear God speak.
In this chapter
- Wagons Match Each Family's Work Numbers 7:1-9
The tribal leaders bring six covered wagons and twelve oxen when the tabernacle is dedicated.
- The First Leader Presents His Gifts Numbers 7:10-17
Each tribal leader receives a day to present gifts for dedicating the altar, the place where sacrifices are offered.
- Five More Tribes Bring Equal Gifts Numbers 7:18-47
Leaders from Issachar, Zebulun, Reuben, Simeon and Gad bring their gifts on the next five days.
- The Remaining Leaders Complete Their Days Numbers 7:48-83
The leaders of Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher and Naphtali bring their gifts on days seven through twelve.
- All the Gifts Are Added Together Numbers 7:84-88
The separate offerings are gathered into totals.
- Moses Hears God Above the Ark Numbers 7:89
Moses enters the tabernacle to speak with God and hears a voice addressing him.
Central truth
Israel's leaders share the cost of worship with equal gifts, while God continues speaking to Moses from the sacred tent.
Scripture beside the summary
Numbers · King James Version · 89Numbers 7:1-9
Wagons Match Each Family's Work
The tribal leaders bring six covered wagons and twelve oxen when the tabernacle is dedicated. God tells Moses to distribute them according to the Levites' tasks. Gershon's families receive two wagons and four oxen for their fabric loads. Merari's families receive four wagons and eight oxen for the structure. Kohath's families receive none because they must carry the sacred objects on their shoulders. The gifts are shared according to the work required, rather than divided into equal portions for every family.
In everyday life
A removals dispatcher gives a large van to workers carrying furniture and a smaller one to the curtain team. Two art handlers carry a fragile piece by hand under its owner's instructions. Unequal equipment follows different tasks rather than unequal regard for the workers. The shoulder rule here is God's command for sacred objects.
Notice
Numbers 7:9 Kohath's families receive no wagons because their load must be carried on shoulders. Their lack of equipment follows a specific duty, not exclusion from service.
Numbers 7:1-9
King James Version1And 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.
Numbers 7:10-17
The First Leader Presents His Gifts
Each tribal leader receives a day to present gifts for dedicating the altar, the place where sacrifices are offered. Nahshon, leader of Judah, comes first. He brings silver containers filled with flour and oil, a gold spoon holding incense, and animals for several kinds of offering. These include burnt offerings, a sin offering and peace offerings. The gifts support worship in different ways. His tribal role places him at the head of the list, but the following leaders will bring the same gifts.
In everyday life
The first orchard owner arrives at a shared packing shed with the agreed crates and supplies for its opening. The clerk records each item under his name before the next owner comes the following day. His early place does not make his share larger. These biblical gifts dedicate an altar through worship, not a business facility.
Notice
Numbers 7:11 Each leader receives a separate day. Equal gifts still receive individual attention, so the dedication records who gives as well as what is given.
Numbers 7:10-17
King James Version10And 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.
Numbers 7:18-47
Five More Tribes Bring Equal Gifts
Leaders from Issachar, Zebulun, Reuben, Simeon and Gad bring their gifts on the next five days. Each brings the same silver containers, gold spoon, flour, oil, incense and groups of animals. The Book of Numbers repeats the full list for each leader rather than reducing later gifts to a brief total. No tribe in this group offers a larger set to outdo another. Every named leader takes part in the shared dedication with the same contribution to the altar's worship.
In everyday life
Five rowing club treasurers arrive on separate evenings with equal payments toward a shared boathouse. The secretary enters each club's full contribution in the ledger rather than writing a single line for the group. Every club receives an identifiable place in the record. Israel's offerings are sacred gifts rather than membership payments.
Notice
Numbers 7:42 The sixth day's giver is named with his tribe and father. Repeated offerings do not erase the identity of the people responsible for bringing them.
Numbers 7:18-47
King James Version18On 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.
Numbers 7:48-83
The Remaining Leaders Complete Their Days
The leaders of Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher and Naphtali bring their gifts on days seven through twelve. Their offerings match those already described, down to the weights of the metal containers and the animals for each purpose. The final day belongs to Ahira, leader of Naphtali. The repeated list gives the last tribes as much recorded space as the first. All twelve take part in dedicating the same altar, despite their different places in the camp and sizes in the army count.
In everyday life
Six amateur astronomers finish bringing equal tool kits to the new shared observatory. The keeper ticks off each bundle, including the final arrival, with the same care used on opening day. Late placement in the schedule does not reduce anyone's contribution. The tribes are dedicating an altar through worship, not equipping a telescope dome.
Notice
Numbers 7:78 Ahira's offering comes on the twelfth day and receives a full list. The last tribe's gift is treated with the same detail as the first.
Numbers 7:48-83
King James Version48On 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.
Numbers 7:84-88
All the Gifts Are Added Together
The separate offerings are gathered into totals. There are twelve silver dishes, twelve silver bowls and twelve gold spoons. The silver weighs 2,400 shekels and the gold 120 shekels, using the sanctuary's weight standard. The animals are also totalled by the kind of sacrifice for which they are given. These figures bring the twelve equal gifts together without losing their different uses. The dedication involves both durable worship equipment and animals that will be offered at the altar.
In everyday life
The village hall treasurer closes the opening ledger by adding tables, chairs and donated meal supplies in separate columns. Counting each category prevents reusable equipment from being confused with things consumed at the event. The totals show what the whole group has supplied. Sacrificial gifts carry a meaning that hall supplies do not.
Notice
Numbers 7:87 Animals are totalled according to their kind of offering. The list preserves their different roles in worship rather than treating every donated animal as interchangeable.
Numbers 7:84-88
King James Version84This 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.
Numbers 7:89
Moses Hears God Above the Ark
Moses enters the tabernacle to speak with God and hears a voice addressing him. It comes from above the mercy seat, the cover of the sacred chest called the ark. Two cherubims, sacred winged figures, stand above it. The gifts and sacrifices have filled much of the chapter, but the final event is God speaking. The sacred tent serves as the meeting place where Moses receives God's words for the people, rather than only a store for their costly gifts.
In everyday life
A pupil enters her tutor's room after classmates have furnished it for a new teaching term. She sits down and listens as the tutor begins explaining the work ahead. The room's equipment supports an encounter that matters more than the furniture. Moses hears God speak, not a human teacher offering professional advice.
Notice
Numbers 7:89 The voice comes from above the ark's cover. The chapter closes with God addressing Moses, giving the costly dedication a clear purpose as a place of meeting.
Numbers 7:89
King James Version89And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Numbers 7:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
Numbers 7:9 forms a natural hinge: “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.”
The final note
Numbers 7:89 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words offering, shekels, five, silver, first, goats help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- spake
- spoke
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
