Números 7
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Números 7
NJB (MT versing) Offerings of the Leaders Offerings of the Leaders Offerings from the Tribal Leaders The Offerings of the Leaders Offering of Wagons 7:1-9 7:1-9 7:1-9 7:1-9 7:1-9 Dedication Offering 7:10-11 7:10-11 7:10-11 7:10-11 7:10-11 7:12-17 7:12-17 7:12-17 7:12-83 7:12-17 7:18-23 7:18-23 7:18-23 7:18-23 7:24-29 7:24-29 7:24-29 7:24-29 7:30-35 7:30-35 7:30-35 7:30-35 7:36-41 7:36-41 7:36-41 7:36-41 7:42-47 7:42-47 7:42-47 7:42-47 7:48-53 7:48-53 7:48-53 7:48-53 7:54-59 7:54-59 7:54-59 7:54-59 7:60-65 7:60-65 7:60-65 7:60-65 7:66-71 7:66-71 7:66-71 7:66-71 7:72-77 7:72-77 7:72-77 7:72-77 7:78-83 7:78-83 7:78-83 7:78-83 7:84-88 7:84-88 7:84-88 7:84-88 7:84-88a 7:88b 7:89 7:89 7:89 7:89 7:89 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Each of the twelve tribal leaders brought the same gifts for the Tabernacle's dedication. This list is similar to many ANE temple/sanctuary lists of sacrifices. silver dish (130 shekels) silver bowl (70 shekels) gold pan (10 shekels) burnt offering one bull one ram one male lamb (one year old) sin offering ‒ one male goat peace offerings two oxen five rams five male goats five male lambs (one female) All of these items of silver and gold came from the gifts of the Egyptians as Israel left Egypt (Exod. 3:22; 11:1; 12:35-36). They once may have been used in Egyptian idolatry but now they were given to YHWH for His Tabernacle.
Números 7:1-9
7:1 "On the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle" This relates back to Exodus 40. The exact time relationship between the events recorded in Leviticus and Numbers 1-6 are ambiguous as to their relationship to Exodus 40 through Numbers 7. ▣ "the tabernacle" See SPECIAL TOPIC: TABERNACLE (chart). ▣ "anointed" This VERB (BDB 602, KB 643, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) is repeated twice in v. 1; also notice Niphal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT in Num. 7:10,84,88 is parallel to the VERB "consecrated" (BDB 872, KB 1073, Piel IMPERFECT with waw) See SPECIAL TOPIC: "ANOINTING" IN THE BIBLE. From Exod. 29:10-14 and Lev. 8:15, which record the consecration of Aaron and his sons, part of the procedure was putting blood on the horns of the altar of sacrifice. But blood is not mentioned in this chapter and olive oil is assumed. ▣ "all its furnishings" See the following Special Topics: SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ARK OF THE COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: ALTAR OF INCENSE SPECIAL TOPIC: LAMPSTAND (Menorah) SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SHOW BREAD OF THE PRESENCE SPECIAL TOPIC: LAVER OF BRONZE ▣ "the altar" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ALTAR OF SACRIFICE. 7:2 "the leaders of Israel" These twelve leaders are described as the heads of their fathers' households the ones who were over the muster of Num. 1:2-18 7:3 "six covered carts" One cart for every two tribes. These carts were for transporting the pieces of the Tabernacle, except for the holy furniture and altar (cf. Num. 7:9), which had to be carried by poles on the shoulders of the priests.
Números 7:10-11
7:7-9 Here are three groups of Levites who camped around the Tabernacle and were responsible for moving it. These special gifts of carts and oxen, given by the twelve leaders of Israel, provided transportation which was needed to perform the tasks of the Levites. 7:11 Each tribe brought their identical animal sacrifices each day. Therefore, the dedication of the altar of sacrifice took twelve days. burnt offering totally consumed on the altar (Num. 7:15) sin offerings, partly eaten by priests (Num. 7:16) peace offerings partial portion given to YHWH by fire partial portion to priests partial portion to offerer and friends These twelve days were days of solemn assembly and festival.
Números 7:12-17
7:12-88 There is a series of sacrifices here which are given by an elected representative from every tribe. The tribes are taken in order of their marching order around the Tabernacle, beginning with Judah on the east, then moving to the south, the west, and the north (cf. Num. 2:3-9). This series of sacrifices is repeated exactly for every tribe on a separate day. 7:12 "of the tribe of Judah" Judah's preeminence is shown by its being listed first it having the most soldiers its position before the gate of the Tabernacle to the east This all goes back to Jacob's blessing in Gen. 49:8-12, esp. v. 10. Reuben was rejected because he slept with his father's concubine (cf. Gen. 35:27). Simeon and Levi are rejected because they broke Jacob's vow and killed the men of Shechem (cf. Gen. 34:25-31). 7:13 "shekel" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES.
Números 7:42-47
7:42 "Deuel" See note at Num. 1:14. Some MSS have "Reuel," which is the "d" ‒ "r" confusion.
Números 7:84-88
7:84-88 This is a summary of all twelve sacrifices and the amount of things given.
Números 7:89
7:89 "Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him" God symbolically dwelt between the wings of the cherubim over the ark of the covenant (cf. Exod. 25:21-22; Ps. 80:1; 99:1). This was God's footstool, though He, Himself, dwelt in heaven. See SPECIAL TOPIC: CHERUBIM, SPECIAL TOPIC: ARK OF THE COVENANT, and SPECIAL TOPIC: MERCY SEAT. ▣ "the voice" This NOUN (BDB 876) means "voice" or "sound." It is often used as a way of showing YHWH's will or law ‒ Gen. 22:18; 26:5; Exod. 5:2; 15:26; 19:5; 23:21, 22; Deut. 8:20; 9:23; 13:4, 18; Jdgs. 1:2, 20; 6:10; 1 Sam. 12:14, 15; 15:1, 19, 20, 22; Jer. 3:13, 24; 7:23 as the sound of YHWH speaking (i.e., revealing Himself) ‒ Exod. 19:19; 1 Kgs. 19:13; Isa. 6:8; Ezek. 10:5; Mic. 6:8 a theological way of asserting the non-physicalness but personality of Israel's Deity ‒ Deut. 4:12 The rabbis later developed this into the bath kol (see full note online at Matt. 3:17), the way of finding God's will by a spoken voice from heaven (i.e., Jesus' baptism, Matt. 3:17; the transfiguration, Matt. 17:5; 2 Pet. 1:17-18).