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Numbers Chapter 7

Offerings at the Tabernacle Dedication The offering of the princes at the dedication of the tabernacle

7 1 Gen 32:26; Gen 32:29; 1 Kin 8:64; 1 Chr 4:10; Mat 23:19; Eph 1:3 A1And 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 Neh 7:70-72; 2 Chr 35:8; 1 Chr 29:6-8; Exo 35:27 2That 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:

3And 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.

4And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

5Take 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.

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

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

8And 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 2 Sam 6:13; 1 Chr 23:26 9But 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. Their several offerings at the dedication of the altar

10 Ezr 6:16; 1 Kin 8:63; Deu 20:5 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 1 Cor 15:23 11And the Lord said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.

12¶And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:

13 Dan 5:3; Jer 52:19; Ezr 1:9-10; Exo 25:29 13And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

14 Rev 5:8; Mal 1:11 14One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense:

15One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

16 Lev 4:23 16One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

17 Luk 3:32 17And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

18¶On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer:

19He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

20One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense:

21 Heb 9:13; Eph 5:2; Eze 45:17 21One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

22 Col 1:20; Pro 7:14 22One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

23And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar.

24¶On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer:

25His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

26One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

27 Rev 5:6-14; 1 Pet 1:19; Gal 1:4 27One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

28One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

29And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.

30¶On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer:

31His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

32One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

33One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

34One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

35And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.

36¶On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer:

37His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

38One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

39 Rev 5:6; 1 Pet 1:19; Heb 9:28 39One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

40One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

41And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

42 Num 10:20; Num 2:14; Num 1:14 42¶On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered:

43 Lev 2:5; Lev 14:10; Heb 1:9; 1 Joh 2:27 43His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

44One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

45 2 Cor 5:21; Amo 5:22; Jer 7:22 45One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

46One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

47And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

48 1 Chr 7:26; Num 2:18; Num 1:10 48¶On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered:

49His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

50 Rev 8:3; Rev 5:8 50One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

51 Mic 6:6-8 51One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

52One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

53And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

54 Num 2:20; Num 1:10 54¶On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh:

55His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

56 Exo 30:7 56One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

57 Rev 5:6; 1 Pet 1:19; Act 8:32 57One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

58One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

59 Lev 3:1; Mic 5:5; 2 Cor 5:19,21 59And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

60 Num 2:22; Num 1:11 60¶On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered:

61His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

62 Rev 5:8; Heb 13:15 62One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

63 Psa 40:6; Isa 53:4; 2 Cor 5:21 63One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

64One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

65 Col 1:20; Pro 7:14; 1 Kin 8:63; Lev 3:1 65And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.

66 Num 1:12; Num 2:25 66¶On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered:

67 Num 3:47; Lev 27:25 67His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

68 Heb 13:15; Phi 4:18 68One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

69One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

70One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

71And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

72 Num 1:13; Num 2:27 72¶On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:

73His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

74 Luk 1:11; Mal 1:11 74One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

75One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

76One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

77And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.

78 Num 1:15; Num 2:29 78¶On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered:

79 Mat 14:11; Mat 14:8; Zec 14:20; Dan 5:2; Jer 52:19 79His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:

80One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:

81One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

82One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

83And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.

84 Hos 13:10; Pro 17:7; Jdg 5:9; Jos 22:13-14 84¶This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold:

85Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:

86 Exo 30:13 86The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels.

87 Num 15:4; Lev 6:14-18; Lev 2:1; Rom 12:1 87All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve.

88And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed. God speaks to Moses from the mercy seat

89 Psa 99:1; Psa 18:10; 1 Kin 6:23; Gen 3:24; Heb 4:16; Lev 1:1 89¶And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.

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Introduction to Numbers
by John MacArthur

Title

The English title “Numbers” comes from the Greek (LXX) and Latin (Vg.) versions.¹ This designation is based on the numberings that are a major focus of chaps. 1-4 and 26. The most common Hebrew title comes from the fifth word in the Hebrew text of 1:1, “in the wilderness [of].” This name is much more descriptive of the total contents of the book, which recount the history of Israel during almost 39 years of wandering in the wilderness. Another Hebrew title, favored by some early church Fathers, is based on the first word of the Hebrew text of 1:1, “and He spoke.” This designation emphasizes that the book records the Word of God to Israel.

Author and Date

The first 5 books of the Bible, called the Law, of which Numbers is the fourth, are ascribed to Moses throughout Scripture (Josh 8:31; 2 Kin. 14:6; Neh 8:1; Mark 12:26; John 7:19). The book of Numbers itself refers to the writing of Moses in 33:2 and 36:13.

Numbers was written in the final year of Moses’ life. The events from 20:1 to the end occur in the 40th year after the Exodus. The account ends with Israel poised on the eastern side of the Jordan River across from Jericho (Num 36:13), which is where the conquest of the land of Canaan began (Josh 3-6). The book of Numbers must be dated ca. 1405 B.C., since it is foundational to the book of Deuteronomy, and Deuteronomy is dated in the 11th month of the 40th year after the Exodus (Deut 1:3).

Background and Setting

Most of the events of the book are set “in the wilderness.” The word “wilderness” is used 48 times in Numbers. This term refers to land that contains little vegetation or trees, and because of a sparsity of rainfall, it cannot be cultivated. This land is best used for tending flocks of animals. In 1:1-10:10, Israel encamped in “the wilderness in Sinai.” It was at Sinai that the Lord had entered into the Mosaic Covenant with them (Ex 19-24). From 10:11-12:16, Israel traveled from Sinai to Kadesh. In 13:1-20:13, the events took place in and around Kadesh, which was located in “the wilderness of Paran” (Num 12:16; 13:3, 26), “the wilderness of Zin” (Num 13:21; 20:1). From 20:14-22:1, Israel traveled from Kadesh to the “plains of Moab.” All the events of 22:2-36:13 occurred while Israel was encamped in the plain to the N of Moab. That plain was a flat and fertile piece of land in the middle of the wasteland (Num 21:20; 23:28; 24:1).

The book of Numbers concentrates on events that take place in the second and fortieth years after the Exodus. All incidents recorded in 1:1-14:45 occur in 1444 B.C., the year after the Exodus. Everything referred to after 20:1 is dated ca. 1406/1405 B.C., the 40th year after the Exodus. The laws and events found in 15:1-19:22 are undated, but probably all should be dated ca. 1443 to 1407 B.C. The lack of material devoted to this 37 year period, in comparison with the other years of the journey from Egypt to Canaan, communicates how wasted these years were because of Israel’s rebellion against the Lord and His consequent judgment.

Historical and Theological Themes

Numbers chronicles the experiences of two generations of the nation of Israel. The first generation participated in the Exodus from Egypt. Their story begins in Ex 2:23 and continues through Leviticus and into the first 14 chapters of Numbers. This generation was numbered for the war of conquest in Canaan (Num 1:1-46). However, when the people arrived at the southern edge of Canaan, they refused to enter the Land (Num 14:1-10). Because of their rebellion against the Lord, all the adults 20 and over (except Caleb and Joshua) were sentenced to die in the wilderness (Num 14:26-38). In chaps. 15-25, the first and second generations overlap; the first died out as the second grew to adulthood. A secondnumbering of the people commenced the history of this second generation (Num 26:1-56). These Israelites did go to war (Num 26:2) and inherited the land (Num 26:52-56). The story of this second generation, beginning in Numbers 26:1, continues through the books of Deuteronomy and Joshua.

Three theological themes permeate Numbers. First, the Lord Himself communicated to Israel through Moses (Num 1:1; 7:89; 12:6-8), so the words of Moses had divine authority. Israel’s response to Moses mirrored her obedience or disobedience to the Lord. Numbers contains three distinct divisions based on Israel’s response to the word of the Lord: obedience (chaps. 1-10), disobedience (chaps. 11-25), and renewed obedience (chaps. 26-36). The second theme is that the Lord is the God of judgment. Throughout Numbers, the “anger” of the Lord was aroused in response to Israel’s sin (Num 11:1, 10, 33; 12:9; 14:18; 25:3, 4; 32:10, 13, 14). Third, the faithfulness of the Lord to keep His promise to give the seed of Abraham the land of Canaan is emphasized (Num 15:2; 26:52-56; 27:12; 33:50-56; 34:1-29).

Interpretive Challenges

Four major interpretive challenges face the reader of Numbers. First, is the book of Numbers a separate book, or is it a part of a larger literary whole, the Pentateuch? The biblical books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy form the Torah. The remainder of the Scripture always views these 5 books as a unit. The ultimate meaning of Numbers cannot be divorced from its context in the Pentateuch. The first verse of the book speaks of the Lord, Moses, the tabernacle and the Exodus from Egypt. This assumes that the reader is familiar with the 3 books that precede Numbers. Still, every Hebrew manuscript available divides the Pentateuch in exactly the same way as the present text. In them the book of Numbers is a well defined unit, with a structural integrity of its own. The book has its own beginning, middle, and ending, even as it functions within a larger whole. Thus, the book of Numbers is also to be viewed with singular identity.

The second interpretive question asks, “Is there a sense of coherence in the book of Numbers?” It is readily evident that Numbers contains a wide variety of literary materials and forms. Census lists, genealogies, laws, historical narratives, poetry, prophecy, and travel lists are found in this book. Nevertheless, they are all blended to tell the story of Israel’s journey from Mt. Sinai to the Plains of Moab. The coherence of Numbers is reflected in the outline that follows.

A third issue deals with the large numbers given for the tribes of Israel in 1:46 and 26:51. These two lists of Israel’s men of war, taken 39 years apart, both put the number over 600,000. These numbers demand a total population for Israel in the wilderness of around 2.5 million at any one time. From a natural perspective, this total seems too high for the wilderness conditions to sustain. However, it must be recognized that the Lord supernaturally took care of Israel for 40 years (Deut 8:1-5). Therefore, the large numbers must be accepted at face value

The fourth interpretive challenge concerns the heathen prophet Balaam, whose story is recorded in 22:2-24:25. Even though Balaam claimed to know the Lord (Num 22:18), Scripture consistently refers to him as a false prophet (2 Pet 2:15, 16, Jude 11). The Lord used Balaam as His mouthpiece to speak the true words He put in his mouth

1. LXX Septuagint—an ancient translation of the Old Testament into Greek, Vg. Vulgate—an ancient translation of the Bible into Latin, translated and edited by Jerome

Outline of Numbers
by John MacArthur

I. The Experience of the First Generation of Israel in the Wilderness (Num 1:1-25:18)

A. The Obedience of Israel toward the Lord (Num 1:1-10:36)
1. The organization of Israel around the tabernacle of the Lord (Num 1:1-6:27)
2. The orientation of Israel toward the tabernacle of the Lord (Num 7:1-10:36)
B. The Disobedience of Israel toward the Lord (Num 11:1-25:18)
1. The complaining of Israel on the journey (Num 11:1-12:16)
2. The rebellion of Israel and its leaders at Kadesh (Num 13:1-20:29)
a. The rebellion of Israel and the consequences (Num 13:1-19:22)
b. The rebellion of Moses and Aaron and the consequences (Num 20:1-29)
3. The renewed complaining of Israel on the journey (Num 21:1-22:1)
4. The blessing of Israel by Balaam (Num 22:2-24:25)
5. The final rebellion of Israel with Baal of Peor (Num 25:1-18)

II. The Experience of the Second Generation of Israel in the Plains of Moab: The Renewed Obedience of Israel toward the Lord (Num 26:1-36:13)

A. The Preparations for the Conquest of the Land (Num 26:1-32:42)
B. The Review of the Journey in the Wilderness (Num 33:1-49)
C. The Anticipation of the Conquest of the Land (Num 33:50-36:13)

Introduction to Numbers
by John MacArthur

Title

Author and Date

Background and Setting

Historical and Theological Themes

Interpretive Challenges

Outline of Numbers
by John MacArthur

I. The Experience of the First Generation of Israel in the Wilderness (Num 1:1-25:18)

II. The Experience of the Second Generation of Israel in the Plains of Moab: The Renewed Obedience of Israel toward the Lord (Num 26:1-36:13)

The 1440 Agenda

Remembering Marcy

Study Bible

Introduction to Numbersby John MacArthur

Title

Author and Date

Background and Setting

Historical and Theological Themes

Interpretive Challenges

Outline of Numbersby John MacArthur

I. The Experience of the First Generation of Israel in the Wilderness (Num 1:1-25:18)

II. The Experience of the Second Generation of Israel in the Plains of Moab: The Renewed Obedience of Israel toward the Lord (Num 26:1-36:13)

Books of the Bible

Chapters in Numbers

The 1440 Agenda

Introduction to Numbers
by John MacArthur

Outline of Numbers
by John MacArthur