Numbers 7:1-47
Q.1. How did God ensure that all the tribes made the Tabernacle the central place of Israel’s worship? – (Num.7:1-3, 10-11)
At last the Tabernacle was ready for action – Now on the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed it and consecrated it with all its furnishings and the altar and all its utensils; he anointed them and consecrated them also (Num7:1). Now the sanctuary and its priesthood needed to be endorsed by the twelve tribes of Israel. The nation was represented by the leaders, who made an offering of carts and oxen on their behalf – When they brought their offering before the Lord, six covered carts and twelve oxen, a cart for every two of the leaders and an ox for each one, then they presented them before the tabernacle (Num.7:3 c.f. Num.7:12-83). Here at the beginning, Israel readily supported the Tabernacle and the priesthood.
Q.2. Did all the priests benefit equally from these offerings? – (Num.7:4-9)
The priestly sons of Kohath worked closely with the descendants of Aaron, so were especially catered for because of their role in making the offerings in the Tabernacle – But he did not give any to the sons of Kohath because theirs was the service of the holy objects, which they carried on the shoulder (Num.7:9). These special offerings were given to the Levites –Gershon was given one-third, and Merari received two-thirds. Why the inequity? They were distributed according to their work – Accept these things from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and you shall give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service (Num.7:5). The Kohathites were more closely involved with the sacrifices and offerings, so would have benefited more from these than did the other Levites. On this occasion they (and the Aaronic priesthood) were precluded from benefitting from this special offering. Being passed over may have caused friction, as in the case of Korah’s rebellion (c.f. Num. 16:1)
Q.3. What would the duration and value of the offerings communicate to Israel about their God? – (Num.7:10-47)
Because the offerings were so significant, they were spaced out over twelve days … one for each leader on behalf of his tribe (Num.7:10-11). God treated all the offerings as worthy of special focus. The time taken for the sacrifices wrote the importance of the Tabernacle into the minds of every Israelite. Without the trusting support of the other tribes of Israel, the Tabernacle and priesthood could not be sustained. All the tribes made the same sacrifices, and gave generously (Num.7:12-47 c.f. Num.7:48-83)