Numbers 7 53

Numbers 7:53 kjv

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 Elishama the son of Ammihud.

Numbers 7:53 nkjv

and as the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

Numbers 7:53 niv

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 Elishama son of Ammihud.

Numbers 7:53 esv

and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

Numbers 7:53 nlt

For a peace offering he brought two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five one-year-old male lambs. This was the offering brought by Elishama son of Ammihud.

Numbers 7 verses

Numbers 7 53 Meaning

Numbers 7:53 details the specific offering brought by Gamaliel, the leader of the tribe of Manasseh, on the ninth day of the Tabernacle's dedication. His offering comprised one silver plate weighing 130 shekels and one silver basin weighing 70 shekels, both measured precisely according to the standard "shekel of the sanctuary." These vessels were filled with fine flour mixed with oil, prepared as a grain offering. This precise accounting highlights the meticulous nature of the dedication process, the generosity and obedience of the tribal leaders, and God's demand for offerings that adhere to divine standards of weight and content.

Numbers 7 53 Context

Numbers chapter 7 provides an extensive and detailed account of the dedication of the Tabernacle and its associated altars. Following the completion of the Tabernacle (Ex 40) and the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests (Lev 8), the stage is set for Israel to begin worship in their newly consecrated portable sanctuary. The chapter narrates how the leaders of each of the twelve tribes of Israel brought offerings for the dedication over a period of twelve consecutive days. Each leader brought an identical set of valuable gifts, demonstrating unity, common purpose, and corporate worship before God. Verse 53 specifically details the offering made on the ninth day by Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, the chief of the tribe of Manasseh. This highly repetitive structure throughout the chapter emphasizes God's precision, the leaders' obedience to divine command, and the meticulous administration of the sacred space and its associated worship practices during the Israelites' wilderness journey. Historically, these detailed records reinforced the importance of the Tabernacle as the central place of worship and the required exactitude in all matters concerning it, setting precedents for later temple worship and priestly service.

Numbers 7 53 Word analysis

• His offering: Refers to Gamaliel's, the leader of the tribe of Manasseh. The consistent and identical nature of each tribal leader's offering underscores unity, equality among the tribes before God, and shared dedication to the newly established sanctuary.
• was one silver plate: Hebrew: קְעָרָה (qe'arah). A deep dish or bowl. Silver signified value, purity, and enduring worth, aligning with the sacred nature of the Tabernacle. These items were not for burning but were part of the practical furnishings for the sacred services, perhaps for the preparation or presentation of grain offerings or liquids.
• weighing a hundred and thirty shekels: This represents a substantial weight of silver (approximately 3.25 lbs or 1.47 kg based on a common shekel weight of 11.4 grams). It reflects the leader's wealth and the significant value placed on the dedication offering.
• one silver basin: Hebrew: מִזְרָק (mizraq). A sprinkling bowl, often used in priestly rituals to collect or sprinkle blood, or to hold liquids. Its presence reinforces the ritualistic context of the Tabernacle service and the sacrificial system.
• of seventy shekels: A considerable weight for a basin (approximately 1.75 lbs or 0.79 kg). The specific and exact weights, consistent across all tribal leaders, highlight the precision required in sacred acts and God's standard.
• both according to the shekel of the sanctuary: Hebrew: בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ (bə-sheqel ha-qodesh). This phrase is highly significant. It indicates that the items were weighed by an official, precise, and fixed standard maintained in the Tabernacle. This was crucial because market shekels could vary. It emphasized honesty, integrity, and absolute adherence to God's standard in all sacred dealings, ensuring that offerings were genuinely of the specified value and a true representation of the donor's commitment. It stood in stark contrast to the deceitful or varying weights common in secular markets and was a polemic against such practices (cf. Prov 11:1, Deut 25:15).
• full of fine flour: Hebrew: סֹלֶת (solet). This is the choicest, purest, and most refined part of the wheat, symbolizing the offering of the very best to God. Grain offerings were foundational, representing livelihood and dependency on divine provision.
• mixed with oil: Hebrew: בָּלוּל בַּשֶּׁמֶן (balul ba-shemen). Oil often symbolized blessing, consecration, light, and provision in ancient Israel. In the grain offering, it signified richness and completed the offering's elements, signifying the giving of one's whole livelihood or substance back to God in devotion.
• for a grain offering: Hebrew: מִנְחָה (minchah). A gift or tribute offering, typically composed of grain, flour, oil, and sometimes frankincense, offered to God without bloodshed. Unlike burnt offerings or sin offerings that addressed sin, the grain offering primarily symbolized devotion, praise, thanksgiving, or a seeking of favor, often accompanying other sacrifices. A portion of it would be burned on the altar (the memorial portion), while the remainder would be eaten by the priests as their due. This dedication gift symbolized the community's sustenance and blessing being presented back to God.

Numbers 7 53 Bonus section

The seemingly repetitive structure of Numbers chapter 7, where virtually identical verses (differing only in the tribal leader's name and the day) are repeated for all twelve tribes, serves as more than just a detailed administrative record. This literary device emphasizes several crucial aspects: the methodical and divine order inherent in all things pertaining to the Tabernacle and its service; the complete obedience of all tribal leaders, indicating corporate unity in their dedication; and the sheer scope and cost of the offerings, highlighting the magnitude of devotion expected for God's dwelling place. The identical offerings further indicate equality among the tribes before God—no tribe was favored or slighted in their foundational contribution to the sanctuary's establishment. This commitment by each major leader provided the essential instruments for worship, allowing the newly established priesthood to function fully according to God's specific commands. The focus on silver, unlike the gold from the earlier wilderness contribution, shows that common and valuable elements are still deemed appropriate for God's use.

Numbers 7 53 Commentary

Numbers 7:53, by its detailed exactitude, transcends mere record-keeping to embody profound spiritual principles. It reveals God's nature as one who values precision and holiness in worship. The specific enumeration of silver plates and basins, precise weights, and the use of the "shekel of the sanctuary" underlines a divine standard that admits no compromise; offerings must not only be valuable but also truly and exactly what they purport to be, a sharp contrast to human fallibility or deceit. The inclusion of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, a minchah, symbolizes Israel's offering of its best substance and livelihood, acknowledging God as the provider and seeking His continued favor. The repeated nature of these identical offerings from each tribal leader reinforces the communal and unified dedication of Israel, highlighting that despite tribal distinctions, all are equally beholden to God's demands for worship and obedience. This act of giving established a pattern of honoring God's presence among them, recognizing that all blessing flows from Him and calls for the highest expressions of gratitude and trust.

• Example 1: Modern tithing and offerings, though monetary, retain the principle of giving one's best in support of God's work.
• Example 2: Serving with excellence in any ministry or act of service, just as the offerings were of "fine flour," reflects presenting one's "best" to God.