Numbers 7: The leaders' gifts for the altar

In plain English: On the day Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed it and made it holy with all its furnishings, and the altar with all its utensils, anointing them and making them holy,

Good to know: Exodus 40:17 says the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year. Numbers 1:1 begins on the first day of the second month. If this is the same day, it comes before the events of chapter 1. The text does not explain the order.

In plain English: the leaders (this Bible: princes) of Israel, the heads of their fathers' families, brought offerings. They were the leaders of the tribes, the men in charge of those who were counted.

In plain English: They brought their offering before Yahweh: six covered wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two leaders and an ox for each one. They brought them in front of the tabernacle.

In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

In plain English: "Accept these from them, so that they can be used for the work of the Tent of Meeting. Give them to the Levites, to each man as his work needs."

In plain English: Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites.

In plain English: He gave two wagons and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, as their work needed.

In plain English: He gave four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, as their work needed, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

In plain English: But he gave none to the sons of Kohath, because their work was with the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders.

Good to know: The sons of Kohath carry the holy things of the sanctuary themselves, after Aaron and his sons have covered them (Numbers 4:15).

In plain English: The leaders brought offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed. The leaders brought their offering in front of the altar.

The Hebrew word: "Dedication" is chanukkah, which the dictionary gives as "initiation, i.e. consecration".

How it is translated: This Bible says "dedication" in all 7 verses that use the word, 4 of them in this chapter.

Good to know: The Jewish feast of Hanukkah takes its name from this word. It remembers the dedication of the temple at a much later time, and John 10:22 calls it "the Feast of the Dedication".

In plain English: Yahweh said to Moses, "They are to bring their offering for the dedication of the altar one leader each day (literally: one leader for the day, one leader for the day)."

In plain English: The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah.

Good to know: The twelve leaders bring their gifts in the order of the camp in chapter 2, starting with Judah on the east side (2:3). Nahshon is also named in the family line of David in Ruth 4:20, and of Jesus in Matthew 1:4.

In plain English: His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

Good to know: Verses 13 to 17 give Nahshon's gift. Each of the other eleven leaders brings the same gift, and the text lists it in full each time, up to verse 83.

In plain English: one gold ladle of 10 shekels, full of incense;

The Hebrew word: "Ladle" is kaph, which the dictionary gives as "the hollow hand or palm", and also "the bowl of a dish".

How it is translated: This Bible says "hand" (or hands) in 133 of the 180 verses that use kaph, and "ladle" (or ladles) in 15.

What changes: Read as "ladle" (or: spoon), it is a small scoop. Read as "dish" (or: pan), it is a small open bowl, shaped like a cupped hand.

In plain English: one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

In plain English: one male goat for a sin offering;

In plain English: and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

In plain English: On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, brought his offering.

In plain English: He brought as his offering one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

In plain English: one gold ladle of 10 shekels, full of incense;

In plain English: one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

In plain English: one male goat for a sin offering;

In plain English: and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

In plain English: On the third day Eliab son of Helon, leader of the people of Zebulun,

In plain English: brought his offering: one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

In plain English: one gold ladle of 10 shekels, full of incense;

In plain English: one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

In plain English: one male goat for a sin offering;

In plain English: and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

In plain English: On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the people of Reuben,

In plain English: brought his offering: one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

In plain English: one gold ladle of 10 shekels, full of incense;

In plain English: one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

In plain English: one male goat for a sin offering;

In plain English: and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

In plain English: On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the people of Simeon,

In plain English: brought his offering: one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

In plain English: one gold ladle of 10 shekels, full of incense;

In plain English: one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

In plain English: one male goat for a sin offering;

In plain English: and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

In plain English: On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the people of Gad,

Good to know: His father is called Deuel here and in 1:14 and 10:20, but Reuel in 2:14. The text does not explain the difference.

In plain English: brought his offering: one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

In plain English: one gold ladle of 10 shekels, full of incense;

In plain English: one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

In plain English: one male goat for a sin offering;

In plain English: and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

In plain English: On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the people of Ephraim,

In plain English: brought his offering: one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

In plain English: one gold ladle of 10 shekels, full of incense;

In plain English: one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

In plain English: one male goat for a sin offering;

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

In plain English: On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the people of Manasseh,

In plain English: brought his offering: one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

In plain English: one gold ladle of 10 shekels, full of incense;

In plain English: one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

In plain English: one male goat for a sin offering;

In plain English: and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

In plain English: On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, leader of the people of Benjamin,

In plain English: brought his offering: one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

In plain English: one gold ladle of 10 shekels, full of incense;

In plain English: one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

In plain English: one male goat for a sin offering;

In plain English: and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

In plain English: On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, leader of the people of Dan,

In plain English: brought his offering: one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

In plain English: one gold ladle of 10 shekels, full of incense;

In plain English: one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

In plain English: one male goat for a sin offering;

In plain English: and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

In plain English: On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ochran, leader of the people of Asher,

In plain English: brought his offering: one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

In plain English: one gold ladle of 10 shekels, full of incense;

In plain English: one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

In plain English: one male goat for a sin offering;

In plain English: and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ochran.

In plain English: On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, leader of the people of Naphtali,

In plain English: brought his offering: one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl of 70 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;

In plain English: one gold ladle of 10 shekels, full of incense;

In plain English: one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;

In plain English: one male goat for a sin offering;

In plain English: and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.