The offerings from the Tribes

Numbers Chapter 7

When Moses set up the Tabernacle and made it a holy place, the tribal leaders of Israel came and brought offerings. Together they brought six carts and twelve oxen. There was a cart for every two leaders and an ox for each leader. They presented their gifts to the Lord in front of the Tabernacle.

The Lord asked Moses to receive these gifts and use the oxen and carts for the work for the work needed at the Tabernacle. So Moses gave them to the Levites according to which division needed them for their work.

The tribal leaders also brought dedication gifts for the altar and the Lord asked them to bring each gift on a different day. So on the first day Nahshon of the tribe of Judah presented his offering. The second day Nathanel of the Issachar tribe presented his offering. The third day Eliab from the Zebulun tribe presented his offering. The fourth day Elizur from the Rueben tribe presented his offering. The fifth day, Shelumiel from the tribe of Simeon presented his offering. The sixth day Eliasaph from the tribe of Gad presented his offering. The seventh day Elishama from the tribe of Ephraim presented his offering. The eight day Gamaliel from the tribe of Manasseh presented his offering. The ninth day Abidan from the tribe of Benjamin presented his offering. The tenth day Ahiezer from the tribe of Dan presented his offering. On the eleventh day Pagiel from the tribe of Asher presented his offering. On the twelfth day Ahira from the tribe of Naphatali present his offering.
The dedication offering included twelve silver platters, twelve silver basins, twelve gold incense containers. The silver weighed 60 lbs and the gold came to over 3 lbs for each gold container. Also twelve bulls, twelve rams, twelve 1 yr old male lambs along with the prescribed grain offerings. And twelve male goats for the sin offerings, as well as 24 young bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty one year old male lambs for the peace offering.

And whenever Moses entered the Tabernacle to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement, that rests on the Ark of the Covenant.

BIBLE NOTES show that everyone participated in bringing gifts to the Tabernacle because it belonged to everyone. I have truly pared this chapter down, so if you want to read it in depth and see all the gifts each tribe brought, I invite you to read it.

How can we relate this chapter to us today? God’s voice! GOD’S VOICE! Imagine hearing it. Even Moses must have been awed. Luckily, Moses recorded the conversations he had with God for the Bible. We are so fortunate to have the records of the Bible to help us gain insight into God’s motives and character. Nowadays people often take his word for granted. But we shouldn’t forget that we have the opportunity to also talk with God in prayer. He answers us even in these times, but first we must seek him out and develop a relationship with God. I so hope you will seek him out. Pray for answers.

Yours in Christ,
Mary