Numbers vii.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. The day. The second of the second month, the year after the Hebrews left Egypt. We might read this chapter immediately after the 10th of Leviticus.
Ver. 3. Covered. Destined to carry some parts of the tabernacle. (Calmet) — The Septuagint use a term which, according to Hesychius, denotes the chariots in which people of quality travelled, Lampenes. (Menochius)
Ver. 8. Four. The sons of Merari were not very numerous, (chap. iv. 44,) and they had the heaviest parts of the tabernacle to carry. The metal alone would weigh 274,875 Roman pounds, of 12 ounces each; not to mention the pillars, &c. If 100 waggons carried each 3000 pounds, and every man 50, they would not carry one half; so that the people must have furnished them with many more waggons besides these four of the princes. (Jansenius) (Calmet) — Abulensis thinks the Merarites carried all that was not laid on the four waggons. (Menochius)
Ver. 10. That day. About that time; the ceremony lasted at least 12 days, ver. 84. (Tirinus)
Ver. 11. Altar of holocausts, the dedication of which continued seven days, Exodus xxix. 36. (Menochius)
Ver. 13. Dish, (acetabulum.) Hebrew kaharath. See Exodus xxv. 29. This present of the prince of Juda weighed five Roman pounds. It was of silver, and consequently could not be used in the sanctuary, but in the court, (Calmet) at the altar of holocausts. (Tirinus)
Ver. 14. Mortar. Hebrew caph, which the Vulgate commonly renders phiala, “a cup,” (Menochius) may signify a spoon for incense, as it generally accompanies the censer, 3 Kings vii. 20. It means literally “the palm of the hand.” The high priest took his hands full of incense on the day of expiation, Leviticus xvi. 12. But on other occasions, a spoon was probably used to throw incense on the altar, or on the coals which were burning in the censers. (Calmet)
Ver. 23. Buck-goats, (hircos). The same as the he-goats given by Nahasson. The presents of all the 12 princes are equal; and Moses mentions them in detail with equal honour. They give them according to the order in which they encamped. Juda, with his two tribes, first; then Ruben, &c.
Ver. 89. Oracle of God, whose majesty appeared, in the form of a bright cloud, upon the propitiatory, or mercy-seat. (Haydock) — Moses is allowed to enter in quality of God’s messenger, to announce his will to the people; or perhaps he heard the mandates of God, standing without the veil. (Du Hamel)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
The offerings of the princes at the dedication of the tabernacle: God speaketh to Moses from the propitiatory.
1 And it came to pass in the day* that Moses had finished the tabernacle, and set it up, and had anointed and sanctified it with all its vessels, the altar likewise and all the vessels thereof,
2 The princes of Israel and the heads of the families, in every tribe, who were the rulers of them who had been numbered, offered*
3 Their gifts before the Lord, six waggons covered, and twelve oxen. Two princes offered one waggon, and each one an ox, and they offered them before the tabernacle.
4 And the Lord said to Moses:
5 Receive them from them to serve in the ministry of the tabernacle, and thou shalt deliver them to the Levites according to the order of their ministry.
6 Moses therefore receiving the waggons and the oxen, delivered them to the Levites.
7 Two waggons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gerson, according to their necessity.
8 The other four waggons, and eight oxen, he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their offices and service, under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron, the priest.
9 But to the sons of Caath he gave no waggons or oxen: because they serve in the sanctuary, and carry their burdens upon their own shoulders.
10 And the princes offered for the dedication of the altar, on the day when it was anointed, their oblation before the altar.
11 And the Lord said to Moses: Let each of the princes, one day after another, offer their gifts for the dedication of the altar.
12 The first day Nahasson, the son of Aminadab, of the tribe of Juda, offered his offering:
13 And his offering was a silver dish, weighing one hundred and thirty sicles, a silver bowl of seventy sicles, according to the weight of the sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil, for a sacrifice:
14 A little mortar, of ten sicles of gold, full of incense:
15 An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a holocaust:
16 And a buck-goat for sin:
17 And for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Nahasson, the son of Aminadab.
18 The second day Nathanael, the son of Suar, prince of the tribe of Issachar, made his offering:
19 A silver dish, weighing one hundred and thirty sicles, a silver bowl of seventy sicles, according to the weight of the sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil, for a sacrifice:
20 A little mortar of gold, weighing ten sicles, full of incense:
21 An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a holocaust:
22 And a buck-goat for sin:
23 And for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five buck-goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Nathanael, the son of Suar.
24 The third day the prince of the sons of Zabulon, Eliab, the son of Helon,
25 Offered a silver dish, weighing one hundred and thirty sicles, a silver bowl of seventy sicles, by the weight of the sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil, for a sacrifice:
26 A little mortar of gold, weighing ten sicles, full of incense:
27 An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a holocaust:
28 And a buck-goat for sin:
29 And for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five buck-goats, five lambs of a year old. This is the oblation of Eliab, the son of Helon.
30 The fourth day the prince of the sons of Ruben, Elisur, the son of Sedeur,
31 Offered a silver dish, weighing one hundred and thirty sicles, a silver bowl of seventy sicles, according to the weight of the sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil, for a sacrifice:
32 A little mortar of gold, weighing ten sicles, full of incense:
33 An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a holocaust:
34 And a buck-goat for sin:
35 And for victims of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five buck-goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Elisur, the son of Sedeur.
36 The fifth day the prince of the sons of Simeon, Salamiel, the son of Surisaddai,
37 Offered a silver dish, weighing one hundred and thirty sicles, a silver bowl of seventy sicles, after the weight of the sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil, for a sacrifice:
38 A little mortar of gold, weighing ten sicles, full of incense:
39 An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a holocaust:
40 And a buck-goat for sin:
41 And for sacrifices of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five buck-goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Salamiel, the son of Surisaddai.
42 The sixth day the prince of the sons of Gad, Eliasaph, the son of Duel,
43 Offered a silver dish, weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a silver bowl of seventy sicles, by the weight of the sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil, for a sacrifice:
44 A little mortar of gold, weighing ten sicles, full of incense:
45 An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a holocaust:
46 And a buck-goat for sin:
47 And for sacrifices of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five buck-goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph, the son of Duel.
48 The seventh day the prince of the sons of Ephraim, Elisama, the son Ammiud,
49 Offered a silver dish, weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a silver bowl of seventy sicles, according to the weight of the sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil, for a sacrifice:
50 A little mortar of gold, weighing ten sicles, full of incense :
51 An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a holocaust:
52 And a buck-goat for sin:
53 And for sacrifices of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five buck-goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Elisama, the son of Ammiud.
54 The eighth day the prince of the sons of Manasses, Gamaliel, the son of Phadassur,
55 Offered a silver dish, weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a silver bowl of seventy sicles, according to the weight of the sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil, for a sacrifice:
56 A little mortar of gold, weighing ten sicles, full of incense:
57 An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a holocaust:
58 And a buck-goat for sin:
59 And for sacrifices of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five buck-goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel, the son of Phadassur.
60 The ninth day the prince of the sons of Benjamin, Abidan, the son of Gedeon,
61 Offered a silver dish, weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a silver bowl of seventy sicles, by the weight of the sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil, for a sacrifice:
62 A little mortar of gold, weighing ten sicles, full of incense:
63 An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a holocaust:
64 And a buck-goat for sin:
65 And for sacrifices of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five buck-goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Abidan, the son of Gedeon.
66 The tenth day the prince of the sons of Dan, Ahiezer, the son of Ammisaddai,
67 Offered a silver dish, weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a silver bowl of seventy sicles, according to the weight of the sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil, for a sacrifice:
68 A little mortar of gold, weighing ten sicles, full of incense :
69 An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a holocaust:
70 And a buck-goat for sin:
71 And for sacrifices of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five buck-goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer, the son of Ammisaddai.
72 The eleventh day the prince of the sons of Aser, Phegiel, the son of Ochran,
73 Offered a silver dish, weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a silver bowl of seventy sicles, according to the weight of the sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil, for a sacrifice:
74 A little mortar of gold, weighing ten sicles, full of incense:
75 An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a holocaust:
76 And a buck-goat for sin:
77 And for sacrifices of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five buck-goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Phegiel, the son of Ochran.
78 The twelfth day the prince of the sons of Nephtali[Nephthali?], Ahira, the son of Enan,
79 Offered a silver dish, weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a silver bowl of seventy sicles, according to the weight of the sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil, for a sacrifice:
80 A little mortar of gold, weighing ten sicles, full of incense:
81 An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a holocaust:
82 And a buck-goat for sin:
83 And for sacrifices of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five buck-goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Ahira, the son of Enan.
84 These were the offerings made by the princes of Israel, in the dedication of the altar, in the day wherein it was consecrated. Twelve dishes of silver: twelve silver bowls: twelve little mortars of gold:
85 Each dish weighing a hundred and thirty sicles of silver, and each bowl seventy sicles: that is, putting all the vessels of silver together, two thousand four hundred sicles, by the weight of the sanctuary.
86 Twelve little mortars of gold, full of incense, weighing ten sicles a piece, by the weight of the sanctuary: that is, in all, a hundred and twenty sicles of gold.
87 Twelve oxen out of the herd for a holocaust, twelve rams, twelve lambs of a year old, and their libations: twelve buck-goats for sin.
88 And for sacrifices of peace-offerings, oxen twenty-four, rams sixty, buck-goats sixty, lambs of a year old sixty. These things were offered in the dedication of the altar, when it was anointed.
89 And when Moses entered into the tabernacle of the covenant, to consult the oracle, he heard the voice of one speaking to him from the propitiatory, that was over the ark between the two cherubims, and from this place he spoke to him.
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*
1: Exodus xl. 16.
2: Year of the World 2514.