Numbers 7 Study Notes

7:1 The historical setting of the construction of the tabernacle (Ex 40:17) is the first day of the first month of the second year, nearly a year after the exodus from Egypt.

7:2-11 The presented carts and oxen would be used to transport the tabernacle and its furnishings. The gifts were brought spontaneously rather than by divine command.

7:12-83 Each of the twelve tribal representatives presented the given number of items for use in the Israelite celebration. The repetition in this passage highlights the fact that every tribe participated in the ritual celebrations and had an equal role in the religious practices. A people in communion with God were ready to worship together and experience his abiding presence. The order of the offerings from each of the tribal representatives follows an administrative-list pattern of the ancient Near East. The normal sequence for Israelite relations with God is: (1) consecration/whole burnt offering for sanctification, (2) purification/sin offering to atone for a broken relationship with God, and (3) peace/thanksgiving offering for the celebration of the relationship with God. Only the guilt offering is not mentioned in this context of consecration and celebration.

7:84-89 This passage fulfills the promise of Ex 25:22. The tent of meeting, where Moses had sought revelation from God, had formerly been located outside the camp, but with the tabernacle construction completed, it was placed within the area of the ark of the covenant. Moses could not enter the tent immediately after its construction because of the smoke from the cloud of the Lord that had descended (Ex 40:34-38), but now with the dedication of the tabernacle implements and sacrifices, he could once more seek counsel from God.