Numbers 7:1-11 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

Bible Comments

89, Princely Generosity; the Voice of God

Numbers 7:1-11

This and the two following Chapter s conclude the account of the stay at Sinai. The transport of the furniture of the Tabernacle was committed to the Levites, and the wagons, enumerated here, made their work much simpler. Two were assigned for hangings and drapery, and four for the more solid and cumbersome portions. The sacred vessels were borne on the shoulders of living men-the Kohathites.

Instead of bulking together these twelve gifts, the divine Spirit lingers lovingly over each. In God's book of remembrance each alabaster box is noted by itself. Note that the vessels were not only costly, but filled! “Both of them full!Numbers 7:13, etc.

Ponder Numbers 7:89. Would that our ears were opened that we might ever hear that voice speaking from between the cherubim, directing in perplexity, and revealing the deep things of God!

Numbers 7:1-11

1 And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;

2 That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered:

3 And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.

4 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

5 Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.

6 And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites.

7 Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service:

8 And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

9 But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.

10 And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.

11 And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.