Chapter 7

1 The offering of the princess at the dedication of the tabernacle. 10 Their several offerings at the dedication of the altar. 89 God speaketh to Moses from the mercy seat.

1. On the day. According to Ex. 40:17, 18, This would be the first day of the first month of the second year of wandering. It is the day of the completion of the tabernacle and the anointing of the altar (see vs. 1, 10, 84, 88). The narrative now returns to the first day of the second year, the month preceding the numbering of the armies.

Fully set up. Moses personally supervised the erection of the tabernacle (Ex. 40:18).

Anointed it. See Ex. 40:9; Lev. 8:10, 11.

2. The princes of Israel. This is equivalent to “the chief of the congregation” (chs. 1:5, 16; 4:34).

3. Covered wagons. Needed for the heavy parts of the tabernacle, and covered to provide adequate protection from the weather.

5. Take it of them. The wagons and oxen were a voluntary offering (v. 3) that must have been received gratefully by the Levites for the work of transportation. Moses apparently did not accept the offer until he was specifically authorized by the Lord to do so.

7. According to their service. The Gershonites transported less than the Merarites (v. 8, see ch. 4:24-26, 31–33).

9. Sons of Kohath. The Kohathites received no wagons, for they had no responsibility for the fabric for the tabernacle itself. Their charge was the ark, the table of the shewbread, etc. These things were carried on staves on their shoulders (ch. 4:15).

10. Offered for dedicating. That is, presented for holy service before being brought to the altar. The offering of objects (vs. 13–17, etc.) for the service of the altar was in a special sense a new dedication of the altar itself. For the consecration of the altar see Ex. 29:37; Lev. 8:10, 15.

12. The tribe of Judah. Nahshon, representing his tribe, gave a contribution on the first day. He had been appointed to help Moses in the census and to be the leader of Judah (chs. 1:7; 2:3).

13. Charger.Translated “dishes” (RSV, “plates”) in Ex. 25:29; 37:16.

Bowl. Translated “basons” in Ex. 27:3 and other places.

14. One spoon. The Hebrew word is the one usually used for the palm of the hand. The reference here is to a container resembling a dish.

18. Prince of Issachar. The offering of Nethaneel and that of the other princes of the same rank as Nahshon are described in similar terms.

48. Seventh day. This may or may not have been the seventh-day Sabbath. The words refer primarily to the seventh day of the consecration of the altar. At least one of the days of the offerings in dedication must have been the Sabbath, if they were taken consecutively—which seems to have been the case.

84. It was anointed. The dedication offerings of the princes were presented over a period of 12 days.

89. He heard the voice. Jehovah spoke with Moses audibly, even as He had with Adam and Eve in the garden (Gen. 3:9) and with Abram at the door of his tent (Gen. 17:1). Only Moses was allowed in the tabernacle at this time to hear God’s message. Apparently even Aaron was excluded (see Ex. 25:22; 40:33, 34; Lev. 16:2).

Ellen G. White comments

9        PP 705