Numbers 7:2

_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:_ The princes of Israel ... brought their offering before the Lord. The finishing of the sacred edifice would, it may well be imagined, be hailed as an auspicious occasion, diffusing great joy and thankfulness throughout the whole population of Israel. But the leading men, not content with participating in the general expression of satisfaction, distinguished themselves by a movement, which, while purely spontaneous, was at the same time so appropriate in the circumstances, and so equal in character, as indicates it to have been the result of concert and previous arrangement. It was an offer of the means of carriage, suitable to the migratory state of the nation in the wilderness, for transporting the tabernacle from place to place. In the...

1-9 The offering of the princes to the service of the tabernacle was not made till it was fully set up. Necessary observances must always take place of free-will offerings. The more any are advanced, the greater opportunity they have of serving God and their generation. No sooner was the tabernacle set up, than provision is made for the removal of it. Even when but just settled in the world, we must be preparing for changes and removes, especially for the great change....

EXPOSITION THE OFFERINGS OF THE PRINCES (Numbers 7:1). NUMBERS 7:1 ON THE DAY THAT MOSES HAD fully SET UP THE TABERNACLE. This expression, "on the day", has given rise to considerable difficulty. Strictly speaking it should mean the first day of the first month of the second year (Exodus 40:17); and so the Targum of Palestine, "It was on the day which begins the month Nisan." It is, however, quite clear from the narrative itself, as well as from its position, that the offerings were not actually made until after the taking of the census and the distribution of their resp

THAT THE PRINCES OF ISRAEL,.... The princes of the twelve tribes of Israel: HEADS OF THE HOUSE OF THEIR FATHERS; of the each of the houses and families the tribes were divided into, and took their name from each of their ancestors, as is next explained: WHO WERE PRINCES OF THE TRIBES; the twelve tribes, as before observed, Numbers 1:4; AND WERE OVER THEM THAT WERE NUMBERED; over the children of Israel that were numbered, Numbers 1:19; by which it that these princes are the very same persons that are mentioned by name there, as they are here afterwards; and were with Moses and Aaron, and assisting to them when they took the number of them; but according to the Targum of Jonathan, and Jarchi, these were appointed over them in Egypt; but the former is right:

5. THE OFFERINGS OF THE PRINCES CHAPTER 7 _ 1. The princes present their offerings (Numbers 7:1)_ 2. The command concerning these offerings and the Levites (Numbers 7:4) 3. The twelve princes and what they offered (Numbers 7:12) 4. Moses hears the voice from the mercy-seat (Numbers 7:89) This is the longest chapter in Numbers. The princes of Israel appear to bring their free-will offerings in six covered wagons drawn each by two oxen. No command had been given. With a willing heart they devoted of their possessions to the service of the sanctuary. The Lord accepting the offerings gave directions that

OFFERINGS OF WAGONS AND OXEN FOR THE TRANSPORT OF THE TABERNACLE. The offerings here mentioned are represented as having been made immediately after the erection of the Tabernacle (1), so that the date implied is a month earlier than that of ch. 1, though the census there described is here presupposed (2)_._ The wagons were to be used only for the conveyance of the hangings and woodwork of the Tabernacle. The Ark, as being more sacred, could only be borne by the Kohathites upon their shoulders. The idea that this, with the other contents of the Tabernacle, was too holy to be transported in wagons, and might be carried only on the shoulders of consecrated Levites, seems to have really been a post-Mosaic development. Even in David's time the Ark was conveyed in a cart (2 Samuel 6:3); but the death that befell Uzzah ...

THE PRINCES. Though their offerings were the same as the others, yet each is recorded separately. OFFERED. brought near. Hebrew. _karab._ App-43....

_offered_ The verb cannot, as in English, stand alone with an absolute force. It is intended to govern -their oblation" in Numbers 7:3; but the remainder of the verse is a parenthesis, and the sentence is then resumed with another verb, -and they brought." _covered wagons_ The word _zâbh_, rendered -covered," is doubtful. It is the singular of a substantive found only in Isaiah 66:20 (R.V. -litters"). The expression may mean _litter-wagons_, i.e. wagons covered like a litter or palanquin. So LXX. ἁμάξας λαμπηνικάς, -wagons like covered chariots." But perhaps the text is corrupt....

VIII. PRINCES.-' OFFERINGS AT THE DEDICATION (NUMBERS 7) TEXT Numbers 7:1. 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 the

THE OFFERINGS OF THE PRINCES AT THE DEDICATION OF THE ALTAR The twelve princes, each representing his tribe, presented gold and silver vessels for use in sacrifices, sacrificial animals, and wagons and oxen for the transport of the tabernacle: see Numbers 4:29; The dedication of these offerings occupied twelve days, and was a service of thanksgiving....