Numbers 7: Special Offerings

Numbers 7 gives us additional information about something that happened on the day the Tabernacle was set up and consecrated.  Leaders of each of the twelve tribes of Israel provided special offerings for use in the ongoing work of the Tabernacle.

Six covered wagons and twelve oxen were given to the Levites.  The clan of the Gershonites received two wagons and four oxen while the Merarites received double, four wagons and eight oxen, for their designated service.  The Kohathites, however, received none of these items because their work involved carrying the most holy articles on their own shoulders.  No wagons and beasts of burden were needed for them.

When the altar was dedicated, there began a 12-day observation where a leader from each of the tribes was given a day to present their special offerings.  Each tribe gave:

• a silver plate weighing 130 shekels, full of choice flour
• a silver basin weighing 70 shekels, full of choice flour
• a golden dish weighing 10 shekels, full of incense
• a young bull for a burnt offering
• a ram for a burnt offering
• a male year-old lamb for a burnt offering
• a male goat for a sin offering
• two oxen for an offering of well-being
• five rams for an offering of well-being
• five male goats for an offering of well-being
• five male year-old lambs for an offering of well-being

For 12 days, these identical gifts were given by each tribe, one after another.  They served as the dedication offerings for the altar.