Numbers 7:89

89 Now when ¹Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above ²the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from ³between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him.

Numbers 7:89 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 7:89

And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the
congregation, to speak with him
With God, to consult him on some affair or another, or to learn whether he had anything else to communicate to him, to be delivered to the children of Israel; or whether he had any directions and instructions to give him about the presents and gifts of the princes, since this seems to be immediately after their offerings:

then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him;
the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it, the voice of the Spirit; but rather the voice of the Shechinah, or Word of God, the eternal "Logos", is what was heard; who in the fulness of time was to be made flesh, and dwell among men, and be heard, and seen, and handled by them; for as for the voice of the Father, the was not heard at any time, ( John 5:37 ) ;

from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of the testimony, from
between the two cherubim;
upon the ark in which the law was, called the testimony, was the mercy seat; over that were placed two cherubim shadowing it, and between these was the seat of the divine Majesty, which he had now taken, and from hence the voice of him speaking, was heard; which, as it follows upon the presents and offerings of the princes, may be interpreted, of the divine approbation and acceptance of them, since it was promised by the Lord to Moses, that upon their building a tabernacle for him he would dwell in it; and upon the making a mercy seat with the cherubim over the ark, he would there meet with Moses, and commune with him; all which being done to his mind he fulfils his promise: though it seems that at this time Moses did not go into the most holy place, only into the tabernacle of the congregation, the outward sanctuary, the court of the tabernacle; and there he heard the voice, as Jarchi observes, coming out of the most holy place, and from the mercy seat there, which was so loud, clear, and distinct, as to be well heard and understood by him; he supposes the voice went out from heaven to between the two cherubim, and from thence to the tabernacle of the congregation: and he spake unto him; what he spoke is not said, unless it is what follows in the next chapter.

Numbers 7:89 In-Context

87 all the oxen for the burnt offering twelve bulls, all the rams twelve , the male lambs one year old with their grain offering twelve , and the male goats for a sin offering twelve ;

88 and all the oxen for the sacrifice of peace offerings 24 bulls, all the rams 60, the male goats 60, the male lambs one year old 60. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.

89 Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 40:34, 35
• 2. Exodus 25:21, 22
• 3. Psalms 80:1; Psalms 99:1

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "propitiatory"