Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 7

1 AND it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it b, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar, and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;

Either 1. precisely, and so this history, as many others is put out of its proper place, and this chapter and the 8th. and 9th. and 10th. and 11th. should follow next after Exod. 40. and this day is the same on which the Tabernacle was erected, which was the first day of the first moneth of the 2 year, Exod. 40. 17, 18. Or 2. largely, day being put for time, and on the day, for about the time, or, a little after the time. And thus it seems to be taken here, because all the princes did not offer these things upon one and the same day, but on several dayes, as here it follows. And so there is no disorder in the history, and this chapter comes in its proper place, and those things were done in the second moneth of the second year after the Tabernacle and Altar and all other instruments thereof were anointed, as is here expressed; and after the Levites were separated to the service of the Tabernacle and appointed to their several works, as is manifest from ver. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. which was done about a moneth after the Tabernacle was erected, &c. and after the numbring of the people Numb. 1. when the Princes here employed in the offerings were first constituted; and after the disposal of the Tribes about the Tabernacle, the order of which is here observed in the time of their offerings.

Marginal references: Exod. 40. 18. Lev. 8. 10.

2 That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers (who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbred) offered :

To wit, in the manner and days hereafter mentioned.

Marginal references: chap. 1. 4.; Heb. who stood.

3 And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons , and twelve oxen: a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an oxe: and they brought them before the tabernacle.

For the more convenient and safe carriage of such things as were most cumbersome.

5 Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and thou shalt give them unto the Levites: to every man according to his service .

(i. e.) More or fewer of them, as the nature of their service and of the things to be carried required.

8 And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

(i. e.) Under his care and inspection. See Gen. 39. 22. And it must be noted that these words belong both to the Merarites here, and to the Gershonites, ver. 7. because both of them were under his hands, as is affirmed, Numb. 4. 28, 33.

9 But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them, was that they should bear upon their shoulders .

Because of the greater worth and holiness of the things which they carried. See Numb. 4. 6, 8, 10, 12, 14. 2 Sam. 6. 6, 13.

10 And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar , in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.

To wit, of burnt-offerings, and incense too, as appears from the matter of their offerings. The singular number for the plural. Not for the first dedication of them, for it is apparent they were dedicated or consecrated before this time by Moses and Aaron for diverse days together, Numb. 8. and 9. but for a further dedication of them, these being the first offerings that were made for any particular persons or tribes.

(i. e.) About the time, as soon as it was anointed. See on ver. 1.

11 And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering each prince on his day , for the dedicating of the altar.

As well for the greater solemnity and splendour of the work, as for the prevention of confusion. And in this offering they follow the order of their camp, and not of their birth.

12 And he that offered his offering the first day, was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah .

In whose name and behalf, this offering was made, and so in the rest.

13 And his offering was one silver charger , the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil, for a meat-offering.

A large dish or platter, of which see Exod. 25. 29. to be employed about the altar of burnt-offering or in the court not in the Sanctuary, for all its [illegible: 1 word] were of gold.

Marginal references: Or, Vial.; Exod. 30. 13.; Lev. 2. 1.

14 One spoon of ten shekels of gold full of incense:

And therefore belonging to the altar of incense.

17 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs of the first year. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

Which are more numerous, because the Princes and Priest[illegible: 1+ letters], and some of the people, did make a feast before the Lord out of them, and celebrated it with great re[illegible: 1+ letters]oycing.

Marginal references: Lev. 3. 1.

84 This was the dedication of the altar, (in the day when it was anointed ) by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold:

This is again repeated, to shew why it is called the dedication of the Altar, because it was the first offering made by any particular persons or Tribes.

Marginal references: Or, vials.

87 All the oxen for the burnt-offering, were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat-offering : and the kids of the goats for sin-offering twelve.

Which was not mentioned before, because it was sufficiently understood from the Law which required it, Numb. 15. 3, 4, 5. but for greater assurance is here expressed.

88 And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace-offerings, were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he-goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed .

Which words are very conveniently added to explain in what sense he had so oft said that this was done in the day when it was anointed, to wit, not exactly, but in a latitude, to wit, a little after that it was anointed, as is here said.

89 And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation , to speak with him , then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy-seat , that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.

Into which Moses, though no Priest, was permitted to enter by Gods special license.

(i. e.) To consult God upon occasion.

Which Moses standing without the vail could easily hear. And this seems to be added in this place, to sh[illegible: 1+ letters]w that when men had done their part in the dedication of the Tabernacle, Altars, &c. God was not wanting in the performance of his part, and promise made, Exod. 25. 22.

Marginal references: That is, God.