Numbers 7 70

Numbers 7:70 kjv

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

Numbers 7:70 nkjv

one kid of the goats as a sin offering;

Numbers 7:70 niv

one male goat for a sin offering;

Numbers 7:70 esv

one male goat for a sin offering;

Numbers 7:70 nlt

and a male goat for a sin offering.

Numbers 7 verses

Numbers 7 70 Meaning

Numbers 7:70 records the specific act of the tribal leader of Benjamin, Abidan, bringing his offering for the dedication of the Tabernacle on the eleventh day of the dedication ceremony. It signifies the consistent participation of each Israelite tribe, through its designated leader, in presenting identical, God-prescribed gifts to honor and set apart the dwelling place of the Lord. The precise repetition throughout the chapter underscores the divine order, unity in worship, and obedience in service.

Numbers 7 70 Context

Numbers chapter 7 meticulously details the dedication of the Tabernacle following its completion (Num 7:1-9). This massive dedication involved the presentation of specific offerings from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, led by their respective chieftains, over a period of twelve days. Every tribe offered the exact same prescribed items: silver plates, a golden pan, and a variety of animals for burnt, sin, and peace offerings.

Verse 70 specifically highlights the contribution of the tribe of Benjamin on the eleventh day. The lengthy, seemingly repetitive nature of the chapter, where each day's offering is listed identically, serves a crucial purpose: it underscores the unity of the tribes in worship, their equal participation, the precise adherence to divine instruction, and the orderliness inherent in God's community. This act was not an arbitrary human ritual but a divinely ordained ceremony, emphasizing God's presence among His people and their obedient response to His covenant. Historically, it reflects the early organization of the Israelite community, their tribal structure, and their immediate response to Yahweh's commands concerning His dwelling place among them after the Exodus and initial covenant at Sinai. It implicitly contrasts with pagan polytheistic practices where offerings might be made out of fear or for manipulation of deities; here, it's an act of worship to the one true God, according to His exact will.

Numbers 7 70 Word analysis

• On the eleventh day (בַּיּוֹם הָאַחַד עָשָׂר - bhay-yōm hā-’aḥaḏ ‘āśār):
  • yōm (יוֹם): Day. Here denotes a distinct 24-hour period within the sequential dedication.
  • aḥad ‘āśār (אַחַד עָשָׂר): Eleventh. The ordinal number specifies the chronological position. Significance: Each tribe participated consecutively over twelve days, demonstrating commitment and thoroughness. It highlights divine order and systematic worship. The repetition of each day's specific date (e.g., Num 7:12, 18, etc.) grounds the account in a precise historical timeline.
• Abidan (אֲבִידָן - ’Ăḇîḏān):
  • Meaning: "My father is judge" or "father of judgment."
  • Significance: The name itself speaks of wisdom or authority, fitting for a tribal leader. As leader, Abidan was chosen to represent Benjamin, a direct link between the tribe and the central act of worship. This reflects the principle of representation in the covenant community.
• the son of Gideoni (בֶּן־גִּדְעֹנִי - ben-Giḏ‘ōnî):
  • ben (בֶּן): Son of. Designates lineage, affirming his tribal identity and inherited authority.
  • Gideoni (גִּדְעֹנִי): Likely means "hewer" or "one who cuts down."
  • Significance: Traces Abidan's ancestry within the tribe, affirming his legitimacy as leader. It rooted the leader in his family and tribal history, ensuring recognized authority.
• leader (נָשִׂיא - nāśî’):
  • Meaning: Prince, chieftain, exalted one. More than just a representative, a high-ranking authority figure.
  • Significance: The nasi was not a priest, but held secular authority, overseeing tribal affairs and representing the people before Moses and God. His role here demonstrates that civil leadership was integral to the sacred worship life of Israel. These were divinely appointed positions.
• of the people of Benjamin (לִבְנֵי בִּנְיָמִין - liḇnê Ḇinyāmîn):
  • bənê (בְּנֵי): Sons of. Used here idiomatically to mean "people of" or "tribe of."
  • Benjamin (בִּנְיָמִין - Binyāmîn):
    • Meaning: "Son of the right hand" (often associated with strength, favor, or a favored position). Rachel's final son, Jacob's youngest.
    • Significance: Identifies the specific tribe presenting its offering. Each tribe, regardless of size or historical status, was called to participate equally, reinforcing the unity and inclusiveness of the covenant. The historical characteristics of Benjamin (e.g., renowned for archers/slingers) do not diminish their role in worship.
• presented his offering (הִקְרִ֧יב אֶת־קָרְבָּנֹֽו׃ - hiqriyḇ ’eṯ-qārbānōw):
  • hiqrîb (הִקְרִ֧יב): He presented/brought near (Hiphil conjugation of qarab, "to draw near").
  • qārbān (קָרְבָּן): Offering, gift (from qarab). Anything brought near to God.
  • Significance: This phrase is key to the entire chapter. It signifies a ritual act of bringing something valuable to God, to establish communion and dedication. The consistent use of "his offering" for each leader emphasizes personal responsibility, even within a communal act. It points to voluntary submission and dedication, made possible through divine provision.

Numbers 7 70 Bonus section

The seemingly tedious repetition of Numbers 7, including verse 70, might challenge modern readers, but it served several critical purposes for its original audience. First, it hammered home the truth that all tribes were equally important and equally accountable to God, participating uniformly in worship regardless of their relative size or strength. Second, the identical nature of the gifts emphasized the uniformity and equity of their dedication—no tribe was greater or lesser in the eyes of God's Tabernacle. Third, this detail ensures the accurate historical record of Israel's earliest communal act of dedicated worship, an anchor for future generations. The Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary, physically embodied God's covenant presence; its dedication by every segment of the community showed Israel's readiness to live as His covenanted people. This detailed accounting might also serve as a polemic against idolatry or any unauthorized form of worship, demonstrating the singular, divinely mandated way to approach the true God.

Numbers 7 70 Commentary

Numbers 7:70, while seemingly a mere detail in a repetitive chapter, functions as a powerful testament to key biblical principles. It is part of a liturgical dance, where twelve tribal leaders, representing the entirety of Israel, participate equally and meticulously in the dedication of God's dwelling place. The precision—eleven days, a specific leader (Abidan), a particular tribe (Benjamin)—is not tedious but theological. It demonstrates the profound order and exactitude that God required in worship, contrasting sharply with the chaotic rituals of surrounding pagan cultures. Every detail, from the day to the leader to the uniform offering, emphasized unity, discipline, and complete obedience to the divine blueprint.

The presentation of the "offering" (qorban) signifies the act of bringing near, or presenting a gift, to God. This physical act represents spiritual devotion, a concept that permeates the entire biblical narrative, from the early sacrifices in Genesis to the ultimate offering of Christ (Heb 10:10-14), and finally to believers presenting their lives as spiritual sacrifices in the New Testament (Rom 12:1). The leader's role underscores the structured nature of the Mosaic covenant and the importance of divinely appointed representatives in corporate worship. It foreshadows the later, more defined roles within the Levitical priesthood and points to the ultimate High Priest, Jesus, who offered Himself once for all. This dedication ceremony initiated the Tabernacle as a functional worship space, allowing God's presence to properly reside among His people. It laid a foundation for the meticulous worship and community life that would define Israel's journey in the wilderness and beyond.