Numbers 7:8

_AND MOSES TOOK THE WAGONS AND THE OXEN, AND GAVE THEM UNTO THE LEVITES._ Moses took the wagons and the oxen. The х_ HAA`ªGAALOT_ (H5699)] word seems to be fairly rendered by the word "wagons." Wheel carriages of some kind are certainly intended (cf. Genesis 45:19; 1 Samuel 6:7; 2 Samuel 6:3; Isaiah 5:18; Amos 2:13), and as they were covered, the best idea we can form of them is, that they bore some resemblance to our tilted wagons. х_ `AAB_ (H5645) add

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 7:8. _FOUR WAGONS - UNTO THE SONS OF MERARI_] Because they had the _boards, bars, pillars_, and _sockets_ of the tabernacle to carry, Numbers 4:31-4, therefore they had as many more wagons as the _Gershonites_....

To the Gershonites, who had to transport the hangings and coverings of the tabernacle, two wagons are assigned: to the Merarites, who had the charge of the solid parts of the tabernacle, four wagons. The furniture and vessels the Kohathites were to carry on their own shoulders. Compare Numbers 3:25, Numbers 3:31, Numbers 3:36....

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 FOUR WAGONS AND EIGHT OXEN HE GAVE TO THE SONS OF MERARI,.... All the remaining wagons and oxen, which were double the number given to the Gershonites: ACCORDING UNTO THEIR SERVICE; being much heavier than theirs, having all the boards, pillars, sockets, pins; cords, c. to bear and carry: thus Moses was directed of God wisely to dispose of those carriages, in proportion to the services each was employed in and in a spiritual way, as the day, duty, and service of the people of God be, he proportions grace and strength to them to answer thereunto: UNDER THE HAND OF ITHAMAR THE SON OF AARON THE PRIEST; under whose care, inspection, and direction, were both the Gershonites and Merarites, Numbers 4:28; and by whom were delivered, according to the instruction of Moses, the several wagons and oxen, to them....

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 transport duties of each of the Levitical families are laid down in ch. 4....

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