N
U M B E R S
CHAP. VII.
God having set up house (as it were) in the
midst of the camp of
Israel
,
the princes of
Israel
here
come a visiting with their presents, as tenants to their landlord, in the name
of their respective tribes. I. They brought presents, 1. Upon the dedication
of the tabernacle, for the service of that, ver. 1-9. 2. Upon the dedication
of the altar, for the use of that, ver. 10-88. And, II. God graciously
signified his acceptance of them, ver. 89. The two foregoing chapters were the
records of additional laws which God gave to
Israel
,
this is the history of the additional services which
Israel
performed
to God.
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The Offerings of the Princes.
B.
C. 1490
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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 waggons, and twelve oxen; a waggon 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 waggons and the oxen, and gave them unto the
Levites. 7 Two waggons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of
Gershon, according to their service: 8 And four waggons 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.
Here is the offering of the princes to the service of the tabernacle. Observe,
I. When it was; not till it was fully set up, v. 1. When all
things were done both about the tabernacle itself, and the camp of
Israel
which surrounded it, according
to the directions given, then they began their presents, probably about the
eighth day of the second month. Note, Necessary observances must always take
place of free-will offerings: first those, and then these.
II. Who it was that offered: The princes of
Israel
, heads of the house of their
fathers, v. 2.
Note, Those that are above others in power and dignity ought to go before
others, and endeavour to go beyond them, in every thing that is good. The more
any are advanced the more is expected from them, on account of the greater
opportunity they have of serving God and their generation. What are wealth and
authority good for, but as they enable a man to do so much the more good in
the world?
III. What was offered: six wagons, with each of them a yoke of oxen to draw
them, v. 3. Doubtless these wagons were agreeable to the rest of the
furniture of the tabernacle and its appurtenances, the best of the kind, like
the carriages which great princes use when they go in procession. Some think
that God, by Moses, intimated to them what they should bring, or their own
consideration perhaps suggested to them to make this present. Though God's
wisdom had ordained all the essentials of the tabernacle, yet it seems these
accidental conveniences were left to be provided by their own discretion,
which was to set in order that which was wanting (Tit. i. 5), and these wagons
were not refused, though no pattern of them was shown to Moses in the mount.
Note, It must not be expected that the divine institution of ordinances should
descend to all those circumstances which are determinable, and are fit to be
left alterable, by human prudence, that wisdom which is profitable to direct.
Observe, No sooner is the tabernacle fully set up than this provision is made
for the removal of it. Note, Even when we are but just settled in the world,
and think we are beginning to take root, we must be preparing for changes and
removes, especially for the great change. While we are here in this world,
every thing must be accommodated to a militant and movable state. When the
tabernacle was framing, the princes were very generous in their offerings, for
then they brought precious stones, and stones to be set (Exod. xxxv.
27), yet now they bring more presents. Note, Those that have done good should
study to abound therein yet more and more, and not be weary of well-doing.
IV. How the offering was disposed of, and what use was made of it: the wagons
and oxen were given to the Levites, to be used in carrying the tabernacle,
both for their ease (for God would not have any of his servants overburdened
with work), and for the more safe and right conveyance of the several parts of
the tabernacle, which would be best kept together, and sheltered from the
weather, in wagons. 1. The Gershonites, that had the light carriage, the
curtains and hangings, had but two wagons, and two yoke of oxen (v. 7);
when they had loaded these, they must carry the rest, if any remained, upon
their shoulders. 2. The Merarites, that had the heavy carriage, and that which
was most unwieldy, the boards, pillars, sockets, &c., had four wagons, and
four yoke of oxen allotted them (v. 8); and yet, if they had not more
wagons of their own, they would be obliged to carry a great deal upon their
backs too, for the silver sockets alone weighed 100 talents, which was above
four tons, and that was enough to load four wagons that were drawn but by one
yoke of oxen a-piece. But each socket being a talent weight, which is about a
man's burden (as appears, 2 Kings v. 23) probably they carried those on their
backs, and put the boards and pillars into the wagons. Observe here, How God
wisely and graciously ordered the most strength to those that had the most
work. Each had wagons according to their service. Whatever burden God
in his providence lays upon us, he will by his sufficient grace proportion the
strength to it, 1 Cor. x. 13. 3. The Kohathites, that had the most sacred
carriage, had no wagons at all, because they were to carry their charge upon
their shoulders (v. 9), with a particular care and veneration. When in
David's time they carried the ark in a cart, God made them to know to their
terror, by the death of Uzza, that they did not seek him in the due order.
See 1 Chron. xv. 13.
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. 12 And he that offered his offering
the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:
13 And 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 One spoon of ten shekels
of gold, full of incense: 15 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb
of the first year, for a burnt offering: 16 One kid of the goats
for a sin offering: 17 And 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: 19 He
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: 20 One spoon of gold of ten shekels,
full of incense: 21 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the
first year, for a burnt offering: 22 One kid of the goats for a
sin offering: 23 And 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:
25 His 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: 26 One golden spoon of ten shekels,
full of incense: 27 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the
first year, for a burnt offering: 28 One kid of the goats for a
sin offering: 29 And 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:
31 His 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: 32 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of
incense: 33 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first
year, for a burnt offering: 34 One kid of the goats for a sin
offering: 35 And 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: 37 His 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: 38 One golden
spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 39 One young
bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
40 One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 41 And 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 On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered:
43 His 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: 44 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of
incense: 45 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first
year, for a burnt offering: 46 One kid of the goats for a sin
offering: 47 And 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 On the seventh day
Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered:
49 His 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 One golden spoon of ten shekels,
full of incense: 51 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the
first year, for a burnt offering: 52 One kid of the goats for a
sin offering: 53 And 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 On the eighth day offered
Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh:
55 His 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 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of
incense: 57 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first
year, for a burnt offering: 58 One kid of the goats for a sin
offering: 59 And 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 On the ninth day
Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered:
61 His 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 One golden spoon of ten shekels,
full of incense: 63 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the
first year, for a burnt offering: 64 One kid of the goats for a
sin offering: 65 And 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 On the tenth day Ahiezer
the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered:
67 His 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 One golden spoon of ten shekels,
full of incense: 69 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the
first year, for a burnt offering: 70 One kid of the goats for a
sin offering: 71 And 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 On the eleventh day
Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:
73 His 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 One golden spoon of ten shekels,
full of incense: 75 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the
first year, for a burnt offering: 76 One kid of the goats for a
sin offering: 77 And 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 On the twelfth day Ahira
the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered:
79 His 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: 80 One golden spoon of ten shekels,
full of incense: 81 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the
first year, for a burnt offering: 82 One kid of the goats for a
sin offering: 83 And 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 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: 85 Each 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 The 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 All 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. 88 And 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. 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.
We have here an account of the great solemnity of dedicating the altars, both
that of burnt-offerings and that of incense; they had been sanctified before,
when they were anointed (Lev. viii. 10, 11), but now they were handselled, as
it were, by the princes, with their free-will offerings. They began the use of
them with rich presents, great expressions of joy and gladness, and
extraordinary respect to those tokens of God's presence with them. Now observe
here,
I. That the princes and great men were first and forwardest in the service of
God. Those that are entitled to precedency should go before in good works, and
that is true honour. Here is an example to the nobility and gentry, those that
are in authority and of the first rank in their country; they ought to improve
their honour and power, their estate and interest, for the promoting of
religion, and the service of God, in the places where they live. It is justly
expected that those who have more than others should do more good than others
with what they have, else they are unfaithful stewards, and will not make up
their account with joy. Nay, great men must not only with their wealth
and power assist and protect those that serve God, but they must make
conscience of being devout and religious themselves, and employing themselves
in the exercises of piety, which will greatly redound to the honour of God
(Ps. cxxxviii. 4, 5), and have a good influence upon others, who will be the
more easily persuaded to acts of devotion when they see them thus brought into
reputation. It is certain that the greatest of men is less than the least of
the ordinances of God; nor are the meanest services of religion any
disparagement to those that make the greatest figure in the world.
II. The offerings they brought were very rich and valuable, so rich that some
think there was not so great a difference in estate between them and others as
that they were able to bear the expense of them themselves, but that the heads
of each tribe contributed to the offering which their prince brought.
1. They brought some things to remain for standing service, twelve large
silver dishes, each about sixty ounces weight, as many large silver cups, or
bowls, of about thirty-five ounces--the former to be used for the
meat-offerings, the latter for the drink-offerings--the former for the flesh
of the sacrifices, the latter for the blood. The latter was God's table (as it
were), and it was fit that so great a King should be served in plate. The
golden spoons being filled with incense were intended, it is probable, for the
service of the golden altar, for both the altars were anointed at the same
time. Note, In works of piety and charity we ought to be generous according as
our ability is. He that is the best should be served with the best we have.
The Israelites indeed might well afford to part with their gold and silver in
abundance to the service of the sanctuary, for they needed it not to buy meat
and victual their camp, being daily fed with bread from heaven; nor did they
need it to buy land, or pay their army, for they were shortly to be put in
possession of Canaan.
2. They brought some things to be used immediately, offerings of each sort,
burnt-offerings, sin-offerings, and a great many peace-offerings (on part of
which they were to feast with their friends), and the meat-offerings that were
to be annexed to them. Hereby they signified their thankful acceptance of, and
cheerful submission to, all those laws concerning the sacrifices which God had
lately by Moses delivered to them. And, though it was a time of joy and
rejoicing, yet it is observable that still in the midst of their sacrifices we
find a sin-offering. Since in our best services we are conscious to
ourselves that there is a mixture of sin, it is fit that there should be even
in our most joyful services a mixture of repentance. In all our approaches to
God, we must by faith have an eye to Christ as the great sin-offering, and
make mention of him.
3. They brought their offerings each on a separate day, in the order that they
had been lately put into, so that the solemnity lasted twelve days. So God
appointed (v. 11): They shall bring their offering, each prince on
his day, and so they did. One sabbath must needs fall within the twelve
days, if not two, but it should seem they did not intermit on the sabbath, for
it was holy work, proper enough for a holy day. God appointed that it should
thus be done on several days, (1.) That solemnity might be prolonged, and so
might be universally taken notice of by all
Israel
, and the remembrance of it more
effectually preserved. (2.) That an equal honour might thereby be put upon
each tribe respectively; in Aaron's breast-plate each had his precious stone,
so in this offering each had his day. (3.) Thus it would be done more decently
and in order; God's work should not be done confusedly, and in a hurry; take
time, and we shall have done the sooner, or at least we shall have done the
better. (4.) God hereby signified how much pleased he is, and how much pleased
we should be, with the exercises of piety and devotion. The repetition of them
should be a continual pleasure to us, and we must not be weary of well doing.
If extraordinary service be required to be done for twelve days together, we
must not shrink from it, nor call it a task and a burden. (5.) The priests and
Levites, having this occasion to offer the same sacrifices, and those some of
every sort, every day, for so many days together, would have their hands well
set in, and would be well versed in the laws concerning them. (6.) The
peace-offerings were all to be eaten the same day they were offered, and two
oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five lambs, were enough for one day's
festival; had there been more, especially if all had been brought on one day,
there might have been danger of excess. The virtue of temperance must not be
left, under pretence of the religion of feasting.
4. All their offerings were exactly the same, without any variation, though it
is probable that neither the princes nor the tribes were all alike rich; but
thus it was intimated that all the tribes of
Israel
had an equal share in the
altar, and an equal interest in the sacrifices that were offered upon it.
Though one tribe was posted more honourably in the camp than another, yet they
and their services were all alike acceptable to God. Nor must we have faith of
our Lord Jesus Christ with respect to persons,
Jam.
ii. 1.
5. Nahshon, the prince of the tribe of
Judah
, offered first, because God had
given that tribe the first post of honour in the camp; and the rest of the
tribes acquiesced, and offered in the same order in which God had appointed
them to encamp. Judah, of which tribe Christ came, first, and then the rest;
thus, in the dedication of souls to God, every man is presented in his own
order, Christ the first-fruits, 1 Cor. xv. 23. Some observe that
Nahshon is the only one that is not expressly called a prince (v. 12),
which the Jews give this account of: he is not called a prince, that he might
not be puffed up because he offered first; and all the others are called
princes because they (though some of them of the elder house) submitted, and
offered after him. Or, because the title of prince of
Judah
did more properly belong to
Christ, for unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
6. Though the offerings were all the same, yet the account of them is repeated
at large for each tribe, in the same words. We are sure there are no vain
repetitions in scripture; what then shall we make of these repetitions? Might
it not have served to say of this noble jury that the same offering which
their foreman brought each on his day brought likewise? No, God would have it
specified for each tribe: and why so? (1.) It was for the encouragement of
these princes, and of their respective tribes, that each of their offerings
being recorded at large no slight might seem to be put upon them; for rich and
poor meet together before God. (2.) It was for the encouragement of all
generous acts of piety and charity, by letting us know that what is so given
is lent to the Lord, and he carefully records it, with every one's name
prefixed to his gift, because what is so given he will pay again, and even a cup
of cold water shall have its reward. He is not unrighteous, to
forget either the cost or the labour of love, Heb. vi. 10. We find
Christ taking particular notice of what was cast into the treasury, Mark xii.
41. Though what is offered be but little, though it be a contribution to the
charity of others, yet if it be according to our ability it shall be recorded,
that it may be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.
7. The sum total is added at the foot of the account (v. 84-88), to
show how much God was pleased with the mention of his freewill-offerings, and
what a great deal they amounted to in the whole, when every prince brought in
his quota! How greatly would the sanctuary of God be enriched and beautified
if all would in their places do their part towards it, by exemplary purity and
devotion, extensive charity, and universal usefulness!
8. God signified his gracious acceptance of these presents that were brought
him, by speaking familiarly to Moses, as a man speaks to his friend, from off
the mercy-seat (v. 89, ch. xii. 8); and in speaking to him he
did in effect speak to all Israel, showing them this token for good, Ps. ciii.
7. Note, By this we may know that God hears and accepts our prayers if he
gives us grace to hear and receive his word, for thus our communion with him
is maintained and kept up. I know not why we may not suppose that upon each of
the days on which these offerings were brought (probably while the priests and
offerers were feasting upon the peace-offerings) Moses was in the tabernacle,
receiving some of those laws and orders which we have already met with in this
and the foregoing book. And here the excellent bishop Patrick observes that
God's speaking to Moses thus by an audible articulate voice, as if he had been
clothed with a holy body, might be looked upon as an earnest of the
incarnation of the Son of God in the fulness of time, when the Word should be
made flesh, and speak in the language of the sons of men. For, however God at
sundry times and in divers manners spoke unto the fathers, he has in these
last days spoken unto us by his Son. And that he who now spoke to Moses,
as the shechinah or divine Majesty, from between the cherubim, was the
eternal Word, the second person in the Trinity, was the pious conjecture of
many of the ancients; for all God's communion with man is by his Son, by whom
he made the world, and rules the church, and who is
the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.
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