Consecration Offerings (Numbers 7)

What do we offer to God? What is far more important than all such offerings? Let’s look at Numbers 7.

What did the chiefs of Israel offer for the service of the tabernacle?

On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached and brought their offerings before the Lord, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. (Numbers 7:1-3 ESV)

What did God tell Moses about these gifts that were offered?

The Lord said to Moses, “Accept these from them to be used in the work of the tent of meeting, and give this offering to the Levites, to each division according to their service.” So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. He gave the Gershonites two carts and four oxen corresponding to their service, and gave the Merarites four carts and eight oxen corresponding to their service, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. But he did not give any to the Kohathites, since their responsibility was service related to the holy objects carried on their shoulders. (Numbers 7:4-9 HCSB)

How were the offerings for the dedication of the tabernacle to be paced out?

The leaders brought the offerings for the dedication of the altar the same day that it was anointed. After the leaders brought their offering to the altar, the Lord told Moses, “They are to present their offerings, one leader per day, for the dedication of the altar.” (Numbers 7:10-11 ISV)

On day one, what was the offering from the tribe of Judah?

And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah: 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: One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense: One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 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. (Numbers 7:12-17 ISV)

On day two, what was the offering from the tribe of Issachar?

On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, brought an offering near; he brought near as his offering one silver dish whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver bowl of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one gold pan of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar. (Numbers 7:18-23 LSB)

On day three, what was the offering from the tribe of Zebulun?

On the third day it was Eliab the son of Helon, leader of the sons of Zebulun; his offering was also one silver dish whose weight was 130 shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels in sanctuary shekels, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense; one bull, one ram, and one male lamb one year old, as a burnt offering; one male goat as a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon. (Numbers 7:24-29 NASB)

On day four, what was the offering from the tribe of Reuben?

On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering. His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur. (Numbers 7:30-34 NIV)