Numbers 7

V 1: INSTIGATION The instigation of worship in the finished tabernacle is marked by anointing and consecrating the tabernacle, its furnishings, its altar and its utensils. V 2–9: INDICATION Covered carts are given to the Gershonites and the Merarites to perform their duties of carrying tabernacle items. However the Kohathites are not given a cart because they must carry the holy things committed to them—including the ark of the covenant—on their shoulders. This early inherent emphasis that the ark must not be put on a cart will become highly significant in the later history of the Israelites. V 10–11: INSTRUCTION The leaders are also instructed to bring offerings of dedication. They obey. V 12–88: IDENTIFICATION The children of Israel are identified with God through the combined offering which He has commanded. They are identified with one another in that, on successive days, each of the twelve tribes brings exactly the same offering of various specified items on behalf of the tribe concerned. To emphasise the importance of each tribe’s individual participation, the narrative is repeated twelve times with the only variant being the name of the tribe concerned. The order of offering by the four sets of three tribes is the same order as when Israel will move out from the camp. Judah’s group on the east side of the tabernacle is followed by the groups led by Reuben, Ephraim and Dan, respectively on the south, west and north of the tabernacle. V 89: INSPIRATION God’s voice speaks to Moses as he goes into the tabernacle of meeting. The voice comes from above the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony and from between the two cherubim. God Himself speaks to Moses. We are not told, however, that Moses went into the Most Holy Place, but only that he went into the tabernacle, and that God spoke from the Most Holy Place.