Chapter 7

1
had fully Exod 40:17-19

anointed it Exod 30:23-30; Lev 8:10-11, Lev 9:1-24

sanctified them Gen 2:3; Exod 13:2; 1Kgs 8:64; Matt 23:19


2
the princes Num 1:4-16, Num 2:1-34, Num 10:1-36

and were over etc. Heb. who stood

offered Exod 35:27; 1Chr 29:6-8; 2Chr 35:8; Ezra 2:68-69; Neh 7:70-72


3
covered wagons The Hebrew egloth tzav, signifies "tilted wagons;" so LXX αμαξας λαμπηνικας, with which the Coptic agrees. These were given for the more convenient exporting of the heavier parts of the tabernacle. Num 7:3


5
Take it Exod 25:1-11, Exod 35:4-10; Ps 16:2-3; Isa 42:1-7, Isa 49:1-8; Eph 4:11-13; Titus 3:8

give them i.e. distribute them among the Levites as they need them; giving most to those who have the heaviest burdens to bear.


7
Two wagons Num 3:25-26, Num 4:24-28

sons of Gershon The Gershonites being fewest in number of able men, had the less burdensome things to carry; for they carried only the curtains, coverings, and hangings (Num 4:25, Num 4:40). And although this was a cumbersome carriage, and they needed waggons, yet it was not a heavy one, and they needed few.


8
four wagons Num 3:36-37, Num 4:28-33

the sons Though the Merarites were the most numerous, yet they had the greatest burden, namely, the boards, bars, pillars, and sockets, to carry (Num 4:31-32, Num 4:48). Therefore they had double the number of waggons to what the Gershonites had assigned them.


9
unto the Because they had the charge of the ark, table, candlestick, altars, etc. (Num 4:4-15), which were to be carried upon their shoulders. For those sacred things must not be drawn by beasts.

because Num 3:31, Num 4:4-16; 2Sam 6:6, 2Sam 6:13; 1Chr 15:3, 1Chr 15:13, 1Chr 23:26


10
princes Every prince, or chief, offered in the behalf, and doubtless at the expense, of his whole tribe.

dedicating Deut 20:5; 1Kgs 8:63; 2Chr 7:5, 2Chr 7:9; Ezra 6:16-17; Neh 12:27, Neh 12:43; Ps 30:1 *title John 10:22


11
1Cor 14:33, 1Cor 14:40; Col 2:5


12
Num 1:7, Num 2:3, Num 10:14; Gen 49:8, Gen 49:10; Ruth 4:20; Matt 1:4; Luke 3:32, Naasson


13
charger Exod 25:29, Exod 37:16; 1Kgs 7:43, 1Kgs 7:45; 2Kgs 25:14-15; Ezra 1:9-10, Ezra 8:25; Jer 52:19; Dan 5:2; Zech 14:20; Matt 14:8, Matt 14:11

the shekel Exod 30:13; Lev 27:3, Lev 27:25

a meat offering Lev 2:1


14
spoon Num 4:7; Exod 37:16; 1Kgs 7:50; 2Kgs 25:14-15; 2Chr 4:22, 2Chr 24:14

incense Exod 30:7-8, Exod 30:34-38, Exod 35:8


15
Num 25:1-18, 28:1-29:40; Lev 1:1-17; Isa 53:4, Isa 53:10-11; Matt 20:28; John 17:19; Rom 3:24-26, Rom 5:6-11, Rom 5:16-21, Rom 8:34, Rom 10:4; 1Tim 2:6; Titus 2:14; Heb 2:10; 1Pet 1:18-19, 1Pet 2:24, 1Pet 3:18


16
Lev 4:23, Lev 4:25


17
peace Lev 3:1-17; 2Cor 5:19-21

this was the offering It is worthy of remark, that the different tribes are represented here as bringing their offerings precisely in the same order in which they encamped about the tabernacle (see Num 2:1 and Num 10:1), beginning at the East, then proceeding to the South, then to the West, and ending with the North, according to the course of the sun. Thus God evinces that he "is not the author of confusion, but of peace" (1Cor 14:33). It is also worthy of remark, that every tribe offers the same kind of offering, and in the same quantity, to shew, that as every tribe was equally indebted to God for its support, so each should testify an equal sense of obligation. Besides, the vessels were all sacrificial vessels, and the animals were all clean animals, such as were proper for sacrifices; and therefore everything was intended to point out, that the people were to be a holy people, fully dedicated to God, and that God was to dwell among them. Thus, as the priests, altar, etc. were anointed, and the tabernacle dedicated, so the people, by this offering, became consecrated to God. Therefore every act here was a religious act.


18
Num 1:8, Num 2:5


19
Num 7:12-17


21
Gen 8:20; Rom 12:1; Eph 5:2


23
Lev 7:11-13; 1Kgs 8:63; Prov 7:14; Col 1:1


24
Num 1:9, Num 2:7


27
Ps 50:8-14, Ps 51:16; Isa 1:11; Jer 7:22; Amos 5:22


30
Num 1:5, Num 2:10


31
offering Num 7:13-89

charger Kaârah, in Arabic, kâran, from kuâra, to be deep, a large deep dish or bowl. It appears by the metal of which this charger and bowl were made, that they were for the use of the altar of burnt offerings in the outer court; for all the vessels of the sanctuary were of gold. It was probably used for receiving the flesh of the sacrifices upon which the priests feasted, or the fine flour for the meat offerings.

Bowl Mizrak, from zarak, to sprinkle, a bowl or bason, used in sprinkling the blood of the sacrifice (Exod 27:21).


32
spoon Kaph, in Syriac, kaphtho, a pan or censer, on which the incense was put. Both the metal of which it was made, and that which it contained, shew that it was for the use of the golden altar in the sanctuary.

incense Ps 66:15; Mal 1:11; Luke 1:10; Rev 8:3


35
And for a sacrifice These sacrifices were more numerous than the burnt offering or the sin offering; because the priests, the princes, and as many of the people as they invited, had a share of them, and feasted, with great rejoicing, before the Lord. This custom, as Mr. Shelden observes, seems to have been imitated by the heathen, who dedicated their altars, temples, statues, etc., with much ceremony.


36
Num 1:6, Num 2:12


37
Num 7:13-89


39
Exod 12:5; John 1:29; Acts 8:32; 1Pet 1:19; Rev 5:6


42
Num 1:14, Num 2:14, Son of Reuel


43
offering Num 7:13-89

mingled with oil Lev 2:5, Lev 14:10; Heb 1:9; 1John 2:27


45
Ps 66:15; Isa 53:4; 2Cor 5:21


48
On the seventh Both Jewish and Christian writers have been surprised that this work of offering went forward on the seventh day (which they suppose to have been a sabbath), as well as on the other days. But:

1. There is no absolute proof that this seventh day of offering was a sabbath.

2. Were it even so, could the people be better employed than in thus consecrating themselves and their services to the Lord?

We have already seen that every act was a religious act; and we may rest assured, that no day was too holy for the performance of such acts as are here recorded. Here it may be observed, that Moses has thought fit to set down distinctly, and at full length, the offerings of the princes of each tribe, though, as we have already observed, they were the very same, both in quantity and quality, that an honourable mention might be made of every one apart, and that none might think himself in the least neglected.

Elishama Num 1:10, Num 2:18


49
Num 7:13-89


51
Whether there were any prayers made for the gracious acceptance of the sacrifices which should be hereafter offered on the altar, we are not informed; but the sacrifices themselves were of the nature of supplications, and it is probable, that they who offered them, made humble petitions along with them.


54
Num 1:10, Num 2:20


55
Num 7:13-89


60
Num 1:11, Num 2:22


61
Num 7:13-89


62
Ps 112:2; Isa 66:20; Dan 9:27; Rom 15:16; Phil 4:18; Heb 13:15


66
On the tenth day When the twelve days of the dedication commenced cannot be easily determined; but the computation of F. Scacchus seems highly probable. He supposes, that the tabernacle being erected the first day of the first month of the second year after the departure from Egypt, seven days were spent in the consecration of it, and the altar, etc.; and that on the eight day, Moses began to consecrate Aaron and his sons, which lasted seven days more. Then, on the fourteenth day of that month, was the feast day of unleavened bread; which God commanded to be observed in the first month (Num 9:1), and which lasted till the 22nd. The rest of the month, we may well suppose, was spent in giving, receiving, and delivering the laws contained in the book of Leviticus; after which, on the first day of the second month, Moses began to number the people, according to the command in the beginning of this book; which may be supposed to have lasted three days. On the fourth, the Levites were numbered; on the next day we may suppose they were offered to God, and given to the Priests; and on the sixth, they were expiated and consecrated, as we read in the following chapter. On the seventh day, their several charges were assigned them (Num 4:1); after which, he supposes the princes began to offer, on the eight day of the second month, for the dedication of the altar, which lasted till the nineteenth day inclusively; and on the twentieth day of this month, they removed from Sinai to the wilderness of Paran (Num 10:11-12).

Ahiezer Num 1:12, Num 2:25


67
Num 7:13-89


72
eleventh day Dr. Adam Clarke remarks, that the Hebrew form of expression here, and in Num 7:78, has something curious in it; beyom âshtey âsar yom, "in the day, the first and tenth day;" beyom shenim âsar yom, "in the day, two and tenth day." But this is the idiom of the language; and to an original Hebrew, our almost anomalous words eleventh and twelfth, would appear as strange.

Pagiel Num 1:13, Num 2:27


73
Num 7:13-89; The oblations and sacrifices enumerated in Num 7:13-88 were simple and plain, though costly and magnificent. On this occasion we find there were offered 12 silver chargers, each weighing 130 shekels; 12 silver bowls, each 70 shekels; 12 golden spoons, each 10 shekels; making the total amount of silver vessels 2,400 shekels, and that of golden vessels, 120 shekels. A silver charger, at 130 shekels, reduced to troy weight, makes 75 oz. 9 dwts. 16, 8/31 gr.; and a silver bowl, at 70 shekels, amounts to 40 oz. 12 dwts. 21, 21/31 gr. The total weight of the 12 chargers is therefore 905 oz. 16 dwts. 3, 3/31 gr.; and that of the 12 bowls, 487 oz. 14 dwts. 20; 4/31 gr.; making the total weight of silver vessels 1,393 oz. 10 dwts. 23, 7/31 gr. The golden spoons, allowing each to be 5 oz. 16 dwts. 3, 3/31 gr., amount to 69 oz. 3 dwts. 13, 5/31 gr. Besides these, there were for sacrifice -parBullocks, 12

Rams, 12

Lambs, 12

Goats, 24

Rams, 60

He goats, 60

Lambs, 60

By this we may at once see, that though the place in which they now sojourned was a wilderness as to cities, villages, and regular inhabitants, yet there was plenty of pasturage; else the Israelites could not have furnished these cattle, with all the sacrifices necessary for different occasions, and especially for the passover, which must of itself have required an immense number of lambs, when each family of 600,000 males was obliged to provide one (Num 9:1).


78
Num 1:15, Num 2:29


79
Num 7:13-89


84
the dedication Num 7:10; 1Chr 29:6-8; Ezra 2:68-69; Neh 7:70-72; Isa 60:6-10; Heb 13:10; Rev 21:14

the princes Judg 5:9; Neh 3:9


85
two thousand 1Chr 22:14, 1Chr 29:4, 1Chr 29:7; Ezra 8:25-26

after the shekel Num 7:13


88
that it was anointed Num 7:1, Num 7:10, Num 7:84


89
to speak Num 12:8; Exod 33:9-11

him that is, God

he heard Num 1:1; Exod 25:22; Lev 1:1; Heb 4:16

two cherubims Exod 25:18-21; 1Sam 4:4; 1Kgs 6:23; Ps 80:1; 1Pet 1:12


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