Numbers 7:84

_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:_ This was the dedication of the altar. The inspired historian here sums up the separate items detailed in the preceding narrative, and the aggregate amount is as follows: 121 silver chargers, each weighing 130 shekels = 1,560; 12 silver bowls, each 70 shekels = 840, total weight. A silver charger at 130 shekels, reduced to Troy weight, makes 75 oz. 9 dwts. 16 3/31 gr.; and a silver bowl at 70 shekels amounts to 40 oz. 12 dwts. 21:21/31 gr. The total weight of the 12 chargers is therefore 905 oz. 16 dwts. 3 3/11 gr., and that of the 12 bowls 487 oz. 14 dwts. 20 4/31 gr.; making the total weight of silver vessels 1,393 oz. 10 dwts. 23 7/21 gr.; which, at 5s. per oz., is equal to 383, 1s. 8 1/2d. The twelve golden spoons, a...

10-89 The princes and great men were most forward in the service of God. Here is an example to those in authority, and of the highest rank; they ought to use their honour and power, their estate and interest, to promote religion and the service of God in the places where they live. Though it was a time of joy and rejoicing, yet still, in the midst of their sacrifices, we find a sin-offering. As, in our best services, we are conscious that there is sin, there should be repentance, even in our most joyful services. In all approaches to God we must by faith look to Christ as the Sin-offering. They brought their offerings each on a day. God's work should not be done confusedly, or in a hurry; take time, and we shall have done the sooner, or, at least, we shall have done the better. If services are to be done for twelve days together, we must not call it a task and a burden. All their offeri...

Verse Numbers 7:84. _THIS WAS THE DEDICATION OF THE ALTAR, IN THE DAY,_ _c._] Meaning here the _time_ in which it was dedicated for as each tribe had a whole day for its representative or prince to present the offerings it had provided, consequently the dedication, in which each had his day, must have lasted _twelve_ days: the words therefore, in this text, refer to the last day or _twelfth_, in which this dedication was completed....

The aggregate worth, by weight, of the whole of the offerings was about 438 British pounds: But the real worth of such a sum, when measured by the prices of clothing and food at that time, must have been vastly greater....

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

THIS [WAS] THE DEDICATION OF THE ALTAR BY THE PRINCES,.... These the presents they made, and the offerings they offered when the altar first began to be made use of, after it had been anointed and sanctified for sacred service: IN THE DAY WHEN IT WAS ANOINTED: this shows that it was not the precise and exact day of the setting up of the tabernacle, and the anointing of the altar, that the above presents and offerings were brought, since they were twelve successive days in bringing; but that the sense is, that about that time, or quickly after it was anointed, the princes dedicated it in the manner before described: TWELVE CHARGERS OF SILVER, TWELVE SILVER BOWLS, TWELVE SPOONS OF GOLD; according to the number of the princes, and the tribes they were princes of; a noble instance both of devotion and piety, and of liberality and generosity; and is a standing example on record to all princ...

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 VESSELS, ANIMALS, AND OTHER MATERIALS FOR USE IN SACRIFICE. The weights of each charger, bowl, and spoon (or cup) presented by the several princes were about 60, 33, and 4¾ oz. respectively. NUMBERS 7:10. FOR THE DEDICATION: better (_mg._), the dedication gift; and so in Numbers 7:11; Numbers 7:84; Numbers 7:88. Numbers 7:89. This verse is incomplete at both its beginning and its close; for the words with him must refer to Yahweh, who is not mentioned in the preceding context, whilst the statement he spake unto him is n

IN THE DAY: i.e. in the twelve days. See App-18....

IN THE DAY— i.e. _At the time:_ for the dedication lasted twelve days....