The Offering (7:1-89)
Neal Pollard
This is the longest chapter in the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament. There is absolutely no doubt as to the theme of the material, as the word “offering” is found 68 times and other forms of the word at least an additional five times! It is interesting that what happens here predates the first six chapters by a whole month. These events occurred on the day the tabernacle was set up (1), while the material at the beginning occurs on the “second month” (1:1ff).
This chapter reveals the anticipation and preparation of Israel to possess the promised land, with representatives of the twelve tribes bringing offerings. It is all about setting up the furnishings of the tabernacle. The first 11 verses provide and introduction and overview, while the rest of the chapter chronicles day by day the offering brought by each tribe. So, it is a 12 day ritual where the leader of each tribe brought their contribution to the work of the tabernacle. Six carts and twelve oxen are donated to Moses for use by the Levites in their work. The wagons and oxen would be divided for use between the Gershonites and Merarites, since the Kohathites had no use for them as those who carried the consecrated vessels of the tabernacle on their shoulders.
The bulk of the chapter reveals the contribution, one tribe per day, for twelve days. Thus, a leader from Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali each bring their offering in that order day after day. Combined, they gave 12 silver bowls, 12 silver plates, 12 golden spoons, 12 kids, 36 bullocks, 60 goats, 72 lambs, and 72 rams. The precious objects went toward the tabernacle while the animals went toward the burnt, sin, and peace offerings.
Accompanying what some might see as tedious or lengthy details about Israel’s offering, note the emphasis on the need for the offerings to be anointed (God-authorized separation) and consecrated (made holy, dedicated). The tabernacle is all about God meeting His people in worship. Doing so as He desired fills the requirements found in Numbers seven. Then, at the end of the chapter, we read what happens when everything had been brought to the Lord for the tabernacle. “And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him” (89). There was intention, expression, and revelation. Moses makes deliberate effort to go into the presence of God. He then spoke with the Lord. But, He also heard a voice speaking to him (cf. Ex. 25:22).
Because Christ has entered the heavenly veil as a forerunner for us, we can make good our intention to enter God’s presence in worship. Worship is to be an audible expression from a prepared heart, and it is also an activity in which we hear God’s will revealed to us through His perfect Word. Let us not miss that each of us, individually, as members of God’s holy nation but also priests (1 Pet. 2:9), bring an offering to God every time we worship Him. Doing so the way He desires is vitally important!
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