Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

7:1-89 Offerings for the Tabernacle. On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle places these events a month before those described in chs. 1-6 (Ex. 40:2; Num. 1:1). If the opening chapters of Numbers had not been placed first, it would have been more difficult to grasp the significance of what is described in this chapter. Numbers 3-4 describes the duties of the priests and Levites; ch. 7 shows how the other tribes supported them. First, they supplied wagons and oxen to help the Levites carry the tabernacle. The Gershonites, carriers of the tabernacle curtains and hangings, were given two wagons and four oxen (4:25-26; 7:7). The Merarites--carriers of the poles, frames, and bases--were given four wagons and eight oxen (4:31-32; 7:8). The Kohathites, who carried the tabernacle furniture on shoulder poles, received none (v. 9).

Dated Events from Exodus 40 to Numbers 10

7:10-88 On 12 successive days the chiefs of the 12 tribes (one chief per day) brought gifts to show their tribes' support for the official worship. Each tribe gave exactly the same thing: one silver plate and one silver basin, each filled with flour mixed with oil. They also offered one golden dish . . . full of incense. The low weight (4 ounces [113 g]) of the dish makes commentators think it may have been more like a ladle or spoon. Then there were a variety of animals to keep the regular sacrifices going. The summary of all the donations in vv. 84-88 shows that the animals were not sacrificed immediately after they were offered but were kept for the appropriate occasion. The exact repetition of the donations of each tribe underlines that all the tribes were equally committed to supporting the tabernacle. It is also noteworthy that, as in chs. 1-4, the tribe of Judah takes the lead (see notes on 1:26-27; 2:1-34).

Offerings from the Twelve Tribes

7:89 This verse emphasizes the awesome responsibility of Moses, who often went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, and who then heard the voice of God speaking to him, in order to receive and communicate God's instructions for the people. This verse also reinforces the importance of the tabernacle, for it was there that Moses heard God speaking to him from between the two cherubim. For a description of the cherubim on the ark, see Ex. 25:10-22; see also The Ark of the Covenant.

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