Numbers 7:3

_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...

3._And they brought their offering before the Lord, six covered waggons _These waggons were dedicated for the conveyance of the tabernacle: for its pillars and many other parts of it could not be carried on men’s shoulders; and therefore they are said to have been _covered, _lest the things which were deposited in them should be exposed to the rain. For it is by no means suitable to suppose that they were litters; (400) and, in fact, a pair of oxen is assigned to every waggon. It is pretty clear, then, that the materials of the tabernacle were placed in them when they were travelling from one place to another. This oblation is stated to have been made “before the Lord,” and then “before the tabernacle,” but the meaning is precisely the same; for God had, as it were, put on that face in which he might be beheld by believers. What follows, “But the Lord had spoken to Moses,” etc., I thus i...

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....

Verse Numbers 7:3. _SIX COVERED WAGONS_] שש עגלת צב _shesh egloth tsab, six_ _tilted wagons_, the Septuagint translate ἑξ ἁμαξας λαμπηνικας, with which the _Coptic_ agrees; but what _lampenic chariots_ were, no person pretends to know. _Covered_ or _tilted_ is probably the meaning of the original. The wagons were given for the more convenient exporting of the heavier parts of the tabernacle, which could not be conveniently carried on men's shoulders....

COVERED WAGONS - Some prefer to render “litter Isaiah 66:20 wagons:” i. e. litters which were not on wheels, but borne by two oxen, one in front and one behind. Such conveyances would probably be more convenient than wheeled wagons in the rough country to be traversed....

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

AND THEY BROUGHT THEIR OFFERING BEFORE THE LORD,.... Before the tabernacle, as it is afterwards explained, where he had now taken up his habitation: SIX COVERED WAGONS, AND TWELVE OXEN; according to the number of the twelve tribes, of which they were princes, two oxen for each wagon, which were to carry the tabernacle, and its vessels, from place to place; and which wagons were covered, not only to hide the things to be put into them from the sight of the people, being sacred, but to preserve them from the rain and dust, and the like; and no doubt, but as they were made of the best materials, So they were covered with rich coverings for the honour of the vessels put into them, being the presents of princes, and in which they joined, and could not be ordinary carriages. The word is rendered "litters" in Isaiah 66:20; and by some, "coaches"; the Targum of Jonathan is,...

THEY BROUGHT It is beautiful to observe that, though the offerings of the princes were identical, each is separately recorded by the pen of inspiration. Compare (Mark 12:41)....

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 ...