Setting the Tabernacle: A Divine Dedication
"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; 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: 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. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service. And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service: And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders. And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar. And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar. Now he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah." - Numbers 7:1-10
In Numbers 7:1-10, we find a pivotal moment in Israel's journey through the wilderness. The verses tell us, "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;" (Num 7:1). Here, Moses fulfills a significant task that God had commanded regarding the establishment of the tabernacle, the place where the presence of the Lord would dwell among His people.
Imagine the scene: Moses, having obediently set up the tabernacle, anoints it, signifying its sacred purpose. The act of sanctification is critical; it means to set apart for divine use. This theme resonates throughout the Bible, encapsulating the notion that some things are designated for God’s glory alone. In the New Testament, we too are called to be sanctified, as Paul states in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification."
Following the completion of the tabernacle, we see the response of the princes of Israel, who were the heads of their respective tribes. They came forward with offerings of six covered wagons and twelve oxen, a generous and significant contribution. The scriptures declare, "And they brought their offering before the LORD... and they brought them before the tabernacle" (Num 7:3). Their offerings were not merely financial; they represented their commitment to the worship and service of God.
This act of giving reminds us of our responsibility to contribute to the work of God in our communities and churches today. Just like the leaders of Israel, we are called to offer our gifts, resources, and lives in service to God’s mission. In our giving, we reflect our understanding of God’s blessings in our lives—a principle echoed by Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:7: "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
After the offerings were brought forth, the LORD spoke to Moses, instructing him to receive the contributions and distribute them to the Levites according to their established duties. God's organization of the camp is noteworthy; every tribe and every family received roles tailored to their functions, and this continues to demonstrate God’s order and purpose in our lives.
The scripture states, "But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders" (Num 7:9). The Kohathites were responsible for carrying the sacred objects. Their role required great physical strength and spiritual diligence. As we read this, we ought to ask ourselves: Are we willing to shoulder the burdens of service given to us? Often, spiritual work may require heavy lifting, whether through prayer for others in need, sacrificial love for family, or serving in our church communities.
These verses conclude with the dedication of the altar, a symbol of atonement and sacrifice, foreshadowing Christ’s ultimate offering on the cross. Each prince offered his gift, emphasizing the communal aspect of worship and sacrifice. The first to offer was Nahshon of Judah; his offering was significant as it represented the first fruits of dedication, marking the commencement of worship at the newly established altar. Some gifts ignite the flame of commitment, inspiring others to follow suit.
In reflection, we see the principle of dedicated service to God embodied in both the offerings of the princes and the structured roles of the Levites. Today, let us consider how we might dedicate our lives, resources, and talents to God’s work, echoing the sentiments of Paul in Romans 12:1, to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. May we embrace our call to sanctification, collective worship, and devoted service, aligning ourselves with His divine purpose in every aspect of our lives.
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Numbers 7:1-10 Artwork
Numbers 7:1-10 - "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; 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: 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. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service. And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service: And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders. And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar. And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar. Now he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah."
"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; 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: 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. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service. And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service: And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders. And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar. And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar. Now he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah." - Numbers 7:1-10
Numbers 7:1-9
Numbers 10:7 - "But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm."
Numbers 7:10 - "¶ And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar."
Numbers 4:7-8
Numbers 1:7 - "Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab."
Numbers 10:1 - "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
Exodus 7:10
Numbers 1:10 - "Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur."
"Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab." - Numbers 1:7
Daniel 7: 9-10
Daniel 7:9-10
Daniel 7:9-10
Daniel 7:9-10
"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying," - Numbers 10:1
"But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm." - Numbers 10:7
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;"
"¶ And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar." - Numbers 7:10
Exodus 7:10 Aaron’s staff eating pharaoh’s serpents
"The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two." - Nehemiah 7:10
1 Kings 7:10 - "And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits."
Numbers 29:7
Numbers 4:7
Combine the authority theme described in Romans 13:1-7 and Revelation 13:1-10.
1 Samuel 10:7 - "And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee."
1 Chronicles 7:10 - "The sons also of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar."
1 Corinthians 7:10 - "And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:"
"Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur." - Numbers 1:10
Numbers 7:7 - "Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service:"