Numbers 7-9

Lexham English Bible

The Leaders Make Offerings

7 On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle and appointed and consecrated it and all its vessels, and the altar and its vessels, and he appointed them and consecrated them, ² the leaders of Israel, the heads of the families,^[a] presented an offering; they were the leaders of the tribes and were the ones in charge of the counting. ³ They brought their offering before the presence of^[b] Yahweh, six covered utility carts and twelve cattle, a utility cart for two of the leaders, and a bull for each; and they presented them before^[c] the tabernacle. ⁴ Yahweh said to Moses, saying, ⁵ “Take them,^[d] and they will be used to do the work of the tent of the assembly; and you will give them to the Levites, each according to his required service.”^{[e] 6} So Moses took the utility carts and the cattle, and he gave them to the Levites. ⁷ Two utility carts and four cattle he gave to the descendants^[f] of Gershon according to their required service;^{[g] 8} and four utility carts and eight cattle he gave to the descendants^[h] of Merari according to their required service,^[i] under the authority of^[j] Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. ⁹ But to the descendants^[k] of Kohath he did not give anything because the work of the sanctuary they carried upon them on their shoulders.^[l]

¹⁰ The leaders presented offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day of its anointing, and the leaders presented their offerings before^[m] the altar. ¹¹ Yahweh said to Moses, “One leader for each day^[n] will present their offering for the dedication of the altar.”

¹² And it happened, the one who presented his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab from the tribe of Judah. ¹³ His offering was one plate of silver—its weight was one hundred and thirty shekels—and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them^[o] filled with finely milled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ¹⁴ one golden dish weighing ten shekels filled with incense; ¹⁵ one young bull,^[p] one ram, one male lamb in its first year^[q] as a burnt offering; ¹⁶ one he-goat as a sin offering; ¹⁷ and as a sacrifice of the fellowship offering, two cattle, five rams, five he-goats, and five male lambs a year old.^[r] This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

¹⁸ On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, presented an offering. ¹⁹ He presented as his offering one silver plate—its weight one hundred and thirty shekels—and one silver bowl for drinking wine weighing seventy shekels^[s] according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them^[t] filled with finely milled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering. ²⁰ One dish weighing ten shekels filled with incense; ²¹ one young ^[u] bull, one ram, a male lamb in its first year^[v] as a burnt offering; ²² one he-goat as a sin offering; ²³ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering, two cattle, five rams, five he-goats, and five male lambs in their first year.^[w] This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

²⁴ On the third day Eliab son of Helon, leader of the descendants^[x] of Zebulun: ²⁵ his offering was one silver plate—its weight one hundred and thirty shekels—and one silver bowl for drinking wine weighing seventy shekels^[y] according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them^[z] filled with finely milled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ²⁶ one golden dish weighing ten shekels^[aa] filled with incense; ²⁷ one young^[ab] bull, one ram, a male lamb in its first year^[ac] as a burnt offering; ²⁸ one he-goat as a sin offering; ²⁹ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering, two cattle, five rams, five he-goats, and five male lambs in their first year.^[ad] This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

³⁰ On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the descendants^[ae] of Reuben: ³¹ his offering was one silver plate—its weight one hundred and thirty shekels—and one silver bowl for drinking weighing seventy shekels^[af] according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them^[ag] filled with finely milled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ³² one golden dish weighing ten shekels^[ah] filled with incense; ³³ one young^[ai] bull, one ram, a male lamb in its first year^[aj] as a burnt offering; ³⁴ one he-goat as a sin offering; ³⁵ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering, two cattle, five rams, five he-goats, and five male lambs in their first year.^[ak] This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

³⁶ On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the descendants^[al] of Simeon: ³⁷ his offering was one silver plate—its weight one hundred and thirty shekels—and one silver bowl for drinking weighing seventy shekels^[am] according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them^[an] filled with finely milled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ³⁸ one golden dish weighing ten shekels^[ao] filled with incense; ³⁹ one young^[ap] bull, one ram, a male lamb in its first year^[aq] as a burnt offering; ⁴⁰ one he-goat as a sin offering; ⁴¹ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering, two cattle, five rams, five he-goats, and five male lambs in their first year.^[ar] This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

⁴² On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the descendants^[as] of Gad: ⁴³ his offering was one silver plate—its weight one hundred and thirty shekels—and one silver bowl for drinking weighing seventy shekels^[at] according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them^[au] filled with finely milled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ⁴⁴ one golden dish weighing ten shekels^[av] filled with incense; ⁴⁵ one young^[aw] bull, one ram, a male lamb in its first year^[ax] as a burnt offering; ⁴⁶ one he-goat as a sin offering; ⁴⁷ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering, two cattle, five rams, five he-goats, and five male lambs in their first year.^[ay] This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

⁴⁸ On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the descendants^[az] of Ephraim: ⁴⁹ his offering was one silver plate—its weight one hundred and thirty shekels—and one silver bowl for drinking weighing seventy shekels^[ba] according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them^[bb] filled with finely milled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ⁵⁰ one golden dish weighing ten shekels^[bc] filled with incense; ⁵¹ one young^[bd] bull, one ram, a male lamb in its first year^[be] as a burnt offering; ⁵² one he-goat as a sin offering; ⁵³ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering, two cattle, five rams, five he-goats, and five male lambs in their first year.^[bf] This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.

⁵⁴ On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the descendants^[bg] of Manasseh: ⁵⁵ his offering was one silver plate—its weight one hundred and thirty shekels—and one silver bowl for drinking weighing seventy shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them^[bh] filled with finely milled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ⁵⁶ one golden dish weighing ten shekels^[bi] filled with incense; ⁵⁷ one young^[bj] bull, one ram, a male lamb in its first year^[bk] as a burnt offering; ⁵⁸ one he-goat as a sin offering; ⁵⁹ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering, two cattle, five rams, five he-goats, and five male lambs in their first year.^[bl] This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

⁶⁰ On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, leader of the descendants^[bm] of Benjamin: ⁶¹ his offering was one silver plate—its weight one hundred and thirty shekels—and one silver bowl for drinking weighing seventy shekels^[bn] according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them^[bo] filled with finely milled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ⁶² one golden dish weighing ten shekels^[bp] filled with incense; ⁶³ one young^[bq] bull, one ram, a male lamb in its first year^[br] as a burnt offering; ⁶⁴ one he-goat as a sin offering; ⁶⁵ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering, two cattle, five rams, five he-goats, and five male lambs in their first year.^[bs] This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

⁶⁶ On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, leader of the descendants^[bt] of Dan: ⁶⁷ his offering was one silver plate—its weight one hundred and thirty shekels—and one silver bowl for drinking weighing seventy shekels^[bu] according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them^[bv] filled with finely milled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ⁶⁸ one golden dish weighing ten shekels^[bw] filled with incense; ⁶⁹ one young^[bx] bull, one ram, a male lamb in its first year^[by] as a burnt offering; ⁷⁰ one he-goat as a sin offering; ⁷¹ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering, two cattle, five rams, five he-goats, and five male lambs in their first year.^[bz] This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

⁷² On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, leader of the descendants^[ca] of Asher: ⁷³ his offering was one silver plate—its weight one hundred and thirty shekels—and one silver bowl for drinking weighing seventy shekels^[cb] according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them^[cc] filled with finely milled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ⁷⁴ one golden dish weighing ten shekels^[cd] filled with incense; ⁷⁵ one young^[ce] bull, one ram, a male lamb in its first year^[cf] as a burnt offering; ⁷⁶ one he-goat as a sin offering; ⁷⁷ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering, two cattle, five rams, five he-goats, and five male lambs in their first year.^[cg] This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran.

⁷⁸ On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, leader of the descendants^[ch] of Naphtali: ⁷⁹ his offering was one silver plate—its weight one hundred and thirty shekels—and one silver bowl for drinking weighing seventy shekels^[ci] according to the sanctuary shekel, both of them^[cj] filled with finely milled flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; ⁸⁰ one golden dish weighing ten shekels^[ck] filled with incense; ⁸¹ one young^[cl] bull, one ram, a male lamb in its first year^[cm] as a burnt offering; ⁸² one he-goat as a sin offering; ⁸³ and for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering, two cattle, five rams, five he-goats, and five male lambs in their first year.^[cn] This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

⁸⁴ This was the dedication of the altar on the day of anointing it, from the leaders of Israel: twelve silver plates, twelve silver bowls for drinking wine, twelve golden dishes; ⁸⁵ each plate of silver weighed one hundred and thirty shekels, and each bowl for drinking seventy, all the silver of the vessels two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel; ⁸⁶ the twelve golden dishes filled with incense, each dish weighing ten shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, all the gold of the dishes one hundred and twenty; ⁸⁷ all the cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, twelve rams, twelve male lambs in their first year,^[co] and their grain offering; and twelve he-goats as a sin offering; ⁸⁸ and all the cattle of the sacrifice of the fellowship offering twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty he-goats, sixty male lambs in their first year.^[cp] These were the dedication of the altar after its anointing.

⁸⁹ And when Moses came to the tent of assembly to speak with him,^[cq] he would hear the voice speaking to him from the atonement cover,^[cr] which is on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, and he would speak to him.

The Seven Lamps

8 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² “Speak to Aaron, and say to him: ‘When you are setting up the lamps, the seven lamps will give light in front of the face of the lampstand.’” ³ And Aaron did so; he set up the lampstand in front of the face of its lamps, just as Yahweh commanded Moses. ⁴ And this is how the lampstand was made,^[cs] a hammered-work of gold; from its base up to its blossom,^[ct] it was hammered-work according to the pattern that Yahweh showed Moses; so he made the lampstand.

Moses Consecrates the Levites

⁵ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ⁶ “Take the Levites from the midst of the Israelites^[cu] and purify them. ⁷ So you will do to them, to purify them: sprinkle on them waters of purification, and they will shave their whole body^[cv] and wash their garments. ⁸ And they will take a young bull^[cw] and its grain offering of finely milled flour mixed with oil, and you will take a second young bull^[cx] as a sin offering. ⁹ You will bring the Levites before^[cy] the tent of assembly, and you will summon the entire community of the Israelites.^{[cz] 10} And you will bring the Levites before Yahweh,^[da] and the Israelites^[db] will lay their hands on the Levites, ¹¹ and Aaron will offer^[dc] the Levites as a wave offering before Yahweh^[dd] from the Israelites,^[de] and they will do the work of Yahweh. ¹² And the Levites will lay their hands on the head of the one bull and offer it as a sin offering and the other one as a burnt offering to Yahweh, to make atonement for the Levites. ¹³ And you will present the Levites before^[df] Aaron and before^[dg] his sons, and he will offer^[dh] them as a wave offering to Yahweh.

¹⁴ “And you will separate the Levites from the midst of the Israelites,^[di] and the Levites will be for me. ¹⁵ And after this the Levites will come to serve at the tent of assembly, and you will purify them, and you will offer^[dj] them as a wave offering. ¹⁶ For they are given to me exclusively from the midst of the Israelites.^[dk] I have taken them for myself in place of the firstborn of every womb, every firstborn from the Israelites.^{[dl] 17} For every firstborn among the Israelites^[dm] is mine, both humankind and animal. On the day I destroyed every firstborn in the land of Egypt I consecrated them to me, ¹⁸ and I have taken the Levites in the place of every firstborn among the Israelites.^{[dn] 19} And I have given the Levites; they are given to Aaron and his sons from the midst of the Israelites^[do] to do the work of the Israelites^[dp] in the tent of the assembly and to make atonement for the Israelites,^[dq] so a plague will not be among the Israelites^[dr] when the Israelites^[ds] come near the sanctuary.”

²⁰ And Moses and Aaron and the entire community of the Israelites^[dt] did to the Levites; everything that Yahweh commanded Moses concerning the Levites, the Israelites^[du] did to them. ²¹ And the Levites purified themselves, and they washed their garments, and Aaron offered them^[dv] as a wave offering before Yahweh;^[dw] and Aaron made atonement for them to purify them. ²² After this the Levites came to do their work in the tent of assembly before Aaron and his sons. Just as Yahweh commanded Moses concerning the Levities, so they did to them.

²³ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ²⁴ “This is what is for the Levites: those twenty-five years old^[dx] and above will^[dy] come to help with the service in the work of the tent of assembly; ²⁵ and those fifty years old^[dz] will^[ea] return from the service of the work and will serve no longer. ²⁶ They^[eb] can attend^[ec] their brothers in the tent of assembly to keep their responsibilities, but they^[ed] will not do work. This is what you will do concerning the Levities and their responsibilities.”

The Passover

9 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai, in the second year after they came out from the land of Egypt, in the first month, saying, ² “Let the Israelites^[ee] observe the Passover at its appointed time. ³ On the fourteenth day of this month at twilight^[ef] you will perform it at its appointed time according to all its decrees; and according to all its stipulations you will observe it.” ⁴ So Moses spoke to the Israelites^[eg] to observe the Passover. ⁵ And they observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight^[eh] in the desert of Sinai. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, thus the Israelites^[ei] did.

⁶ And it happened, men who were unclean by a dead person^[ej] were not able to perform the Passover on that day. And they came before^[ek] Moses and Aaron on that day. ⁷ And those men said to him, “Although we are unclean by a dead person,^[el] why are we hindered from presenting the offering of Yahweh at its appointed time in the midst of the Israelites?”^{[em] 8} Moses said to them, “Stay. I will hear what Yahweh commands to you.”

⁹ And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ¹⁰ “Speak to the Israelites,^[en] saying, ‘Each man that is unclean by a dead person^[eo] or is on a far journey, you or your descendants,^[ep] he will observe the Passover of Yahweh. ¹¹ On the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight^[eq] they will observe it; they will eat it with unleavened bread and bitter plants. ¹² They will leave none of it until morning, and they will not break a bone in it; they will observe it according to every decree of the Passover. ¹³ But the man who is clean and not on a journey, and he fails to observe the Passover, that person will be cut off from the people because he did not present the offering of Yahweh on its appointed time. That man will bear his guilt. ¹⁴ If an alien dwells with you he will observe the Passover of Yahweh according to the decree of the Passover and according to its stipulation; thus you will have one decree for you, for the alien and for the native of the land.’”

The Cloud and the Fire

¹⁵ And on a day setting up the tabernacle, the cloud covered the tent of the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony; in the evening it was on the tabernacle as an appearance of fire until morning. ¹⁶ So it was^[er] continually; the cloud would cover it and the appearance of fire by night. ¹⁷ Whenever the cloud lifted up from on the tent, after that the Israelites^[es] would set out, and in the place where the cloud dwelled, there the Israelites^[et] camped. ¹⁸ On the command of Yahweh^[eu] the Israelites^[ev] would set out, and on the command of Yahweh^[ew] they encamped; all the days that the cloud dwelled on the tabernacle they encamped. ¹⁹ And when the cloud prolonged on the tabernacle many days the Israelites^[ex] kept the kept requirement of Yahweh and did not set out. ²⁰ When the cloud remained^[ey] a number of days on the tabernacle, on the command of Yahweh^[ez] they encamped; and on the command of Yahweh^[fa] they set out. ²¹ When the cloud remained^[fb] from evening until morning, and the cloud lifted up in the morning, they would set out, or if it remained in the daytime and at night, when the cloud lifted up they set out. ²² When it was two days, a month, or a year^[fc] that the cloud prolonged to dwell on the tabernacle, the Israelites^[fd] encamped, and they did not set out; when it lifted up they set out. ²³ On the command of Yahweh^[fe] they encamped, and on the command of Yahweh^[ff] they set out. They kept the requirement of Yahweh, on the command of Yahweh^[fg] in the hand of Moses.^[fh]