NUMBERS CHAPTER 7 The tabernacle being fully finished, the twelve princes offer gifts; which are delivered to the Gershonites and the Merarites, Numbers 7:1-11. What they offered in particular of silver, gold, vessels, and beasts, Numbers 7:12-83. The sum thereof, Numbers 7:84-88. God spake to Moses from the mercy-seat, Numbers 7:89. On the day; either,
1. Precisely; and so this history, as many others, is put out of its proper place, and this chapter, and the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th, should follow next after Exo 40 and this day is the same on which the tabernacle was erected, which was the first day of the first month of the second year, Exodus 40:17,18. Or,
2. Largely, day being put for time, and on the day for about the time, or, a little after the time. And thus it seems to be taken here, because all the princes did not offer these things upon one and the same day, but on several days, as here it follows. And so there is no disorder in the history, and this chapter comes in its proper place, and those things were done in the second month of the second year after the tabernacle, and altar, and all other instruments thereof were anointed, as is here expressed; and after the Levites were separated to the service of the tabernacle, and appointed to their several works, as is manifest from Numbers 7:5-9, which was done about a month after the tabernacle was erected, &c.; and after the numbering of the people, Num 1, when the princes here employed in the offerings were first constituted; and after the disposal of the tribes about the tabernacle, the order of which is here observed in the time of their offerings. Anointed it, Leviticus 8:10.