A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Numbers · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Verſ. 1. ANd it came to paſſe on the day that Moſes had fully ſet up the tabernacle, &c.]
In this chapter Moſes relates the offerings that were brought by the Princes of the tribes for the carriage of the tabernacle, and for dedicating of the altar. Now becauſe it is ſaid here, that theſe twelve princes brought ſix waggons and twelve oxen for the carriage of the tabernacle, on the day that Moſes had fully ſet up the tabernacle and had anointed it, &c. it is much queſtioned amongſt Expoſitours, when this was done: Some conceive that they offered theſe things preciſely on the day that Moſes had fully ſet up the tabernacle, &c. which was on the firſt day of the firſt monethmonth in the ſecond year after their coming out of Egypt. Exod. 40. 17. a full monethmonth before the numbring of the people, whereof Moſes ſpake in the beginning of this book (for the charge for that was given on the first day of the ſecond monethmonth, chap. 1. 1.) and ſo they conceive that this is here inſerted, though done a monethmonth before, onelyonly becauſe theſe things formerly offered by the Princes were now given to the Levites. But then others conceive that theſe waggons and oxen were now offered by the Princes in the order as it is here ſet down, after the tribes were numbred and placed in their ſeverall ſtations round about the tabernacle; and that therefore by theſe words, And it came to paſſe on the day that Moſes had fully ſet up the tabernacle and had anointed it, &c. onelyonly thus much is intended, that theſe things were brought and offered by the Princes after that Moſes had fully finiſhed the erection of the tabernacle, &c. and the ordering of all things belonging thereto, amongſt which we may well reckon the placing of the tribes in their ſeverall ſtations, and the Levites alſo in their places round about the tabernacle. And indeed this expoſition ſeems moſt probable, 1. becauſe it is ſaid here that the Princes that offered theſe things were thoſe that were ſet over the numbring of the people, ver. 2. to wit, thoſe mentioned by name, chap. 1. 5. &c. 2. becauſe it is not likely that theſe oxen and waggons were offered for the ſervice of the tabernacle a monethmonth before the Levites were ſet apart to their ſervice, and had their ſeverall charge aſſigned them for the carrying of the tabernacle and thoſe thing… that belonged thereto: and 3. becauſe it is ſaid in the end of this chapter, verſ. 88. This was the dedication of the altar after it was anointed, which ſhews that theſe things were not done juſt on the day that Moſes ſet up the tabernacle, &c.
Verſ. 5. And thou ſhalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according t… his ſervice.]
That is, according as the weight is more or leſſe of thoſe things which …re committed to their charge.
Verſ. 8. And foure waggon… a…d …ight oxen he gave unto the ſonnes of Merari.]
See the note upon chap. 3. ver. 36.
Verſ. 10. And the Princes offered for dedicating the altar in the day that …t was anointed, &c.]
That is, for the firſt imploying thereof in thoſe holy ſervices for which it was ordained. Indeed Moſes firſt offered burnt-offerings and other ſacrifices thereon ſeven dayes together for the conſecrating of the prieſts, Levit. 8. (which was in the firſt monethmonth of the ſecond year) and the next day after Aaron and his ſonnes offered ſacrifices thereon for himſelf and the people in generall, Levit. 9. 7. on which day it was that Nadab and Abihu periſhed. But now in the ſecond monethmonth of the ſecond year, when the tribes were all placed about the tabernacle, the Princes brought their offerings, and becauſe theſe were the firſt offerings that were offered for any particular perſons or tribes, therefore they are ſaid to be offered for the dedicating of the altar, and ſo thoſe following words, in the day that it was anointed, muſt not be taken ſtrictly of the very day whereon it was firſt anointed, but more generally, as before, ver. 1.
Verſ. 12. And he that offered his offering the firſt day was Nahſhon, &c.]
Here the Captains of the tribes offer every one in his day, according to the order wherein God had ſet them round about the Sanctuary, beginning at the Eaſt-quarter, proceeding to the South, and then to the Weſt, and ſo ending at the North.
Verſ. 13. And his offering was one ſilver charger, &c.]
To wit, for the uſe of the altar of burnt-offerings, which ſtood in the court whereon theſe ſacrifices which they brought were to be offered: for all that were uſed in the tabernacle were of pure gold.
Verſ. 17. And for a ſacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, &c.]
Of theſe the Princes with the prieſts, &c. did eat, and ſo keep a feaſt with joy before the Lord for his mercy toward his people.
Verſ. 88. This was the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.]
See the note upon ver. 1.
Verſ. 89. And when Moſes was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation, &c.]
This may ſeem to be here added, becauſe after that all things were thus ordered concerning the tabernacle, and that Aaron and his ſonnes were thus farre entred up…n their prieſtly office, Moſes went into the tabernacle to receive further direction from the Lord, and ſo the Lord ſpake unto Moſes from the mercy-ſeat, as is here expreſſed; and he ſpake unto him, that is, Mo…e… ſpake unto the Lord, propounding ſuch things to the Lord as he deſired to be ſatisfied in.