Numbers 7 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
the first month of the second year after the exodus, on and after the day the tabernacle was set up, slightly earlier than the census of chapter 1
Location
the wilderness of Sinai, at the entrance of the newly dedicated tent of meeting
Audience
the wilderness generation, and later readers reading a formal public record of tribal giving
Situation
The chiefs of the twelve tribes bring carts and oxen for transporting the sanctuary, then present identical dedication offerings of silver dishes, a gold pan, animals, grain, and oil, one chief on each of twelve consecutive days. The chapter records every gift in full, tribe by tribe, and closes with Moses hearing God's voice from above the ark.
Key Background
The repetition that makes this the longest chapter in the Torah is deliberate record-keeping in the style of ancient temple inventories, where donations were itemised by weight so the sanctuary's holdings could be audited. Presenting exactly the same gift from each tribe on its own day gave every tribe equal public standing, avoiding the ranking that different-sized gifts would have created. The wagons are given to the Gershonites and Merarites who carried frames and hangings, but not to the Kohathites, because the most sacred objects had to travel on human shoulders rather than in a cart.
On the day Moses finished setting up the he it and it own, along with all its furniture. He the altar and all its utensils and them own too.
Then the of — the heads of their ancestral families, the tribal chiefs who had overseen the census — came forward with their offerings.
They brought their offering before Yahweh: six and twelve oxen — one wagon for every two leaders and one ox from each. They presented these in front of the dwelling place.
Yahweh told Moses,
"Accept these from them. They'll be used for the work of the Give them to the based on what each group's work requires."
So Moses took the wagons and oxen and gave them to the Levites.
He gave two wagons and four oxen to the based on what their work required.
He gave four wagons and eight oxen to the under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. Their work required it.
But he didn't give any to the because they were responsible for the that to which had to be carried on their shoulders.
The leaders also brought offerings for the of the altar on the day it was anointed. They presented their offerings before the altar.
Yahweh told Moses, "Have one leader bring his offering each day for the dedication of the altar."
The one who brought his offering on the first day was of from the tribe of Judah.
His was: one silver plate weighing about three and a quarter pounds, one silver basin weighing about one and three-quarter pounds (both measured by the at and both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil as a
one gold dish weighing about four ounces, filled with
one young bull, one ram, and one one-year-old male lamb for an
one male goat as a
and for the two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the of Nahshon son of Amminadab.
On the second day, of the leader of Issachar, brought his offering.
His offering was: one silver plate weighing about three and a quarter pounds, one silver basin weighing about one and three-quarter pounds (both measured by the at and both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering),
one gold dish weighing about four ounces, filled with incense,
one young bull, one ram, and one one-year-old male lamb for an entirely-burned offering,
one male goat as a wrong-setting-right offering,
and for the fellowship offering: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.
On the third day, of the leader of Zebulun, brought his offering.
His offering was: one silver plate weighing about three and a quarter pounds, one silver basin weighing about one and three-quarter pounds (both measured by the at and both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering),
one gold dish weighing about four ounces, filled with incense,
one young bull, one ram, and one one-year-old male lamb for an entirely-burned offering,
one male goat as a wrong-setting-right offering,
and for the fellowship offering: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.
On the fourth day, of the leader of Reuben, brought his offering.
His offering was: one silver plate weighing about three and a quarter pounds, one silver basin weighing about one and three-quarter pounds (both measured by the at and both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering),
one gold dish weighing about four ounces, filled with incense,
one young bull, one ram, and one one-year-old male lamb for an entirely-burned offering,
one male goat as a wrong-setting-right offering,
and for the fellowship offering: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.
On the fifth day, of the leader of Simeon, brought his offering.
His offering was: one silver plate weighing about three and a quarter pounds, one silver basin weighing about one and three-quarter pounds (both measured by the at and both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering),
one gold dish weighing about four ounces, filled with incense,
one young bull, one ram, and one one-year-old male lamb for an entirely-burned offering,
one male goat as a wrong-setting-right offering,
and for the fellowship offering: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.
On the sixth day, of the leader of Gad, brought his offering.
His offering was: one silver plate weighing about three and a quarter pounds, one silver basin weighing about one and three-quarter pounds (both measured by the at and both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering),
one gold dish weighing about four ounces, filled with incense,
one young bull, one ram, and one one-year-old male lamb for an entirely-burned offering,
one male goat as a wrong-setting-right offering,
and for the fellowship offering: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.
On the seventh day, of the leader of Ephraim, brought his offering.
His offering was: one silver plate weighing about three and a quarter pounds, one silver basin weighing about one and three-quarter pounds (both measured by the at and both filled with fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering),
one gold dish weighing about four ounces, filled with incense,