Offerings of the Leaders

Now on (A)the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, he (B)anointed it and consecrated it with all its furnishings and the altar and all its utensils; he anointed them and consecrated them also. Then (C)the leaders of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ households, (D)made an offering (they were the leaders of the tribes; they were the ones who [a]were over the [b]numbered men). When they brought their offering before the Lord, six (E)covered carts and twelve oxen, a cart for every two of the leaders and an ox for each one, then they presented them before the tabernacle. Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Accept these things from them, that they may be [c]used in the service of the tent of meeting, and you shall give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.” So Moses took the carts and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. Two carts and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to (F)their service, and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to (G)their service, under the [d]direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But he did not give any to the sons of Kohath because theirs was (H)the service of the holy objects, which they carried on the shoulder.

10 The leaders offered the dedication offering [e]for the altar [f]when (I)it was anointed, so the leaders offered their offering before the altar. 11 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Let them present their offering, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.”

12 Now the one who presented his offering on the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah; 13 and his offering was one silver [g](J)dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, (K)according to [h]the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 14 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense; 15 one [i]bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering; 16 (L)one male goat for a sin offering; 17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of (M)Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

18 On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, presented an offering; 19 he presented as his offering one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 20 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense; 21 one bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering; 22 one male goat for a sin offering; 23 and for the sacrifice of (N)peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.

24 On the third day it was Eliab the son of Helon, leader of the sons of Zebulun; 25 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 26 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense; 27 one young bull, one ram, one (O)male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering; 28 one male goat for a sin offering; 29 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day it was Elizur the son of Shedeur, leader of the sons of Reuben; 31 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 32 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense; 33 one bull, one ram, one (P)male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering; 34 one male goat for a sin offering; 35 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day it was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, leader of the children of Simeon; 37 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 38 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense; 39 one bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering; 40 one male goat for a sin offering; 41 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day it was (Q)Eliasaph the son of Deuel, leader of the sons of Gad; 43 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of (R)fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 44 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense; 45 (S)one bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering; 46 one male goat for a sin offering; 47 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

48 On the seventh day it was (T)Elishama the son of Ammihud, leader of the sons of Ephraim; 49 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 50 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of (U)incense; 51 (V)one bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering; 52 one male goat for a sin offering; 53 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

54 On the eighth day it was (W)Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, leader of the sons of Manasseh; 55 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 56 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of (X)incense; 57 one bull, one ram, one (Y)male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering; 58 one male goat for a sin offering; 59 and for the (Z)sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

60 On the ninth day it was (AA)Abidan the son of Gideoni, leader of the sons of Benjamin; 61 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 62 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of (AB)incense; 63 one bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering; 64 one male goat for a (AC)sin offering; 65 and for the sacrifice of (AD)peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.

66 On the tenth day it was (AE)Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, leader of the sons of Dan; 67 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the (AF)shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 68 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of (AG)incense; 69 one bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering; 70 one male goat for a sin offering; 71 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

72 On the eleventh day it was (AH)Pagiel the son of Ochran, leader of the sons of Asher; 73 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 74 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of (AI)incense; 75 one bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering; 76 one male goat for a sin offering; 77 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran.

78 On the twelfth day it was (AJ)Ahira the son of Enan, leader of the sons of Naphtali; 79 his offering was one (AK)silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; 80 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense; 81 one bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering; 82 one male goat for a sin offering; 83 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.

84 This was (AL)the dedication offering [j]for the altar from the leaders of Israel [k]when (AM)it was anointed: twelve silver dishes, twelve silver bowls, twelve gold pans, 85 each silver dish weighing one hundred and thirty shekels and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the utensils was 2,400 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; 86 the twelve gold pans, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, according to the (AN)shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the pans 120 shekels; 87 all the oxen for the burnt offering twelve bulls, all the rams twelve, the male lambs one year old with their grain offering twelve, and the male goats for a sin offering twelve; 88 and all the oxen for the sacrifice of peace offerings 24 bulls, all the rams 60, the male goats 60, the male lambs one year old 60. (AO)This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.

89 Now when (AP)Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above (AQ)the [l]mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from (AR)between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 7:2 Lit stood
  2. Numbers 7:2 Lit mustered
  3. Numbers 7:5 Lit for serving
  4. Numbers 7:8 Lit hand
  5. Numbers 7:10 Lit of
  6. Numbers 7:10 Lit in the day that
  7. Numbers 7:13 Or platter, and so through v 85
  8. Numbers 7:13 I.e. Approx one-half oz, and so through v 86
  9. Numbers 7:15 Or bull of the herd, and so through v 81
  10. Numbers 7:84 Lit of
  11. Numbers 7:84 Lit in the day that
  12. Numbers 7:89 Lit propitiatory

Chapter 7

Tribal Offerings.[a] The day that Moses completed setting up the tabernacle, he anointed it and consecrated it and all of its furnishings, including the altar and all of its utensils. He anointed and consecrated them. The leaders of Israel, the heads of the clans, and the leaders of the tribes that had been counted in the census, made their offerings. They brought their offerings before the Lord: six covered wagons and twelve oxen. There was a wagon for each two leaders, and an oxen for each of them. They brought them before the tabernacle.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Accept these things from them so that they might be used in the service of the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites, each according to his responsibility.” Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. He gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonites for their responsibilities. He also gave four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarites for their responsibilities. They were under the direction of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest. None of them were given to the Kohathites, for it was their job to carry their portion of the tabernacle upon their shoulders.

10 The leaders also presented offerings to commemorate the dedication of the altar on the day that it was anointed. The leaders placed their offerings before the altar. 11 The Lord said to Moses, “Let each of the leaders present his offering for the dedication of the altar on successive days.”

12 Nahshon, the son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah, presented his offering on the first day. 13 His offering was one silver dish that weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and one bowl weighing seventy shekels, both calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Both vessels were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. 14 He also brought one gold pan weighing ten shekels, filled with incense, 15 one young bull, one young ram, one year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 16 one male goat for a sin offering, 17 and two oxen, five rams, and five year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab.

18 Nethanel, the son of Zuar, the leader of the people of Issachar, brought his offering on the second day. 19 His offering was one silver dish that weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and one bowl weighing seventy shekels, both calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Both vessels were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. 20 He also brought one gold pan weighing ten shekels, filled with incense, 21 one young bull, one young ram, one year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 22 one male goat for a sin offering, 23 and two oxen, five rams, and five year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering of Nethanel, the son of Zuar.

24 Eliab, the son of Helon, the leader of the people of Zebulun, presented on the third day 25 his offering of one silver dish that weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and one bowl weighing seventy shekels, both calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Both vessels were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. 26 He also brought one gold pan weighing ten shekels, filled with incense, 27 one young bull, one young ram, one year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 28 one male goat for a sin offering, 29 and two oxen, five rams, and five year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering of Eliab, the son of Helon.

30 Elizur, the son of Shedeur, the leader of the people of Reuben, presented on the fourth day 31 his offering of one silver dish that weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and one bowl weighing seventy shekels, both calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Both vessels were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. 32 He also brought one gold pan weighing ten shekels, filled with incense, 33 one young bull, one young ram, one year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 34 one male goat for a sin offering, 35 and two oxen, five rams, and five year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering of Elizur, the son of Shedeur.

36 Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the people of Simeon, presented on the fifth day 37 his offering of one silver dish that weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and one bowl weighing seventy shekels, both calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Both vessels were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. 38 He also brought one gold pan weighing ten shekels, filled with incense, 39 one young bull, one young ram, one year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 40 one male goat for a sin offering, 41 and two oxen, five rams, and five year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai.

42 Eliasaph, the son of Reuel, the leader of the people of Gad, presented on the sixth day 43 his offering of one silver dish that weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and one bowl weighing seventy shekels, both calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Both vessels were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. 44 He also brought one gold pan weighing ten shekels, filled with incense, 45 one young bull, one young ram, one year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 46 one male goat for a sin offering, 47 and two oxen, five rams, and five year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph, the son of Reuel.

48 Elishama, the son of Ammihud, the leader of the people of Ephraim, presented on the seventh day 49 his offering of one silver dish that weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and one bowl weighing seventy shekels, both calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Both vessels were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. 50 He also brought one gold pan weighing ten shekels, filled with incense, 51 one young bull, one young ram, one year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 52 one male goat for a sin offering, 53 and two oxen, five rams, and five year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering of Elishama, the son of Ammihud.

54 Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, the leader of the people of Manasseh, presented on the eighth day 55 his offering of one silver dish that weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and one bowl weighing seventy shekels, both calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Both vessels were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. 56 He also brought one gold pan weighing ten shekels, filled with incense, 57 one young bull, one young ram, one year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 58 one male goat for a sin offering, 59 and two oxen, five rams, and five year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur.

60 Abidan, the son of Gideoni, the leader of the people of Benjamin, presented on the ninth day 61 his offering of one silver dish that weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and one bowl weighing seventy shekels, both calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Both vessels were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. 62 He also brought one gold pan weighing ten shekels, filled with incense, 63 one young bull, one young ram, one year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 64 one male goat for a sin offering, 65 and two oxen, five rams, and five year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering of Abidan, the son of Gideoni.

66 Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the people of Dan, presented on the tenth day 67 his offering of one silver dish that weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and one bowl weighing seventy shekels, both calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Both vessels were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. 68 He also brought one gold pan weighing ten shekels, filled with incense, 69 one young bull, one young ram, one year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 70 one male goat for a sin offering, 71 and two oxen, five rams, and five year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai.

72 Pagiel, the son of Ochran, the leader of the people of Asher, presented on the eleventh day 73 his offering of one silver dish that weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and one bowl weighing seventy shekels, both calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Both vessels were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. 74 He also brought one gold pan weighing ten shekels, filled with incense, 75 one young bull, one young ram, one-year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 76 one male goat for a sin offering, 77 and two oxen, five rams, and five year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering of Pagiel, the son of Ochran.

78 Ahira, the son of Enan, the leader of the people of Naphtali, presented on the twelfth day 79 his offering of one silver dish that weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and one bowl weighing seventy shekels, both calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Both vessels were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. 80 He also brought one gold pan weighing ten shekels, filled with incense, 81 one young bull, one young ram, one year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, 82 one male goat for a sin offering, 83 and two oxen, five rams, and five year-old male lambs for a peace offering. This was the offering of Ahira, the son of Enan.

84 This was the dedication offering from the leaders of Israel for the altar on the day that it was anointed: twelve silver dishes, twelve silver bowls and twelve gold pans. 85 Each silver dish weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and each silver bowl seventy shekels. All the silver vessels together weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 86 The twelve gold pans full of incense weighed ten shekels each, calculated according to the shekel of the sanctuary. All together the gold pans weighed one hundred and twenty shekels. 87 There were twelve bull oxen for the burnt offering as well as twelve rams and twelve year-old male lambs with their grain offering, and there were twelve rams for the sin offering. 88 There were twenty-four bull oxen for the peace offering as well as sixty rams and sixty year-old male lambs. This was the dedication offering after it was anointed.

89 When Moses had gone into the tent of meeting to speak with him, he heard a voice coming from above the mercy seat and between the two cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant speaking to him. So he spoke to him.[b]

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 7:1 According to the Book of Exodus (Ex 40:17), these preparations were made a month before the census that is recorded at the beginning of the Book of Numbers. Evidently, the biblical author makes free use, in accordance with his own perspective, of the records available to him in the various traditions.
  2. Numbers 7:89 After a lengthy and repetitious listing of the precious gifts from the leaders of the 12 tribes, the chapter concludes with a highpoint: the presence of the Lord filling the tabernacle.