Numbers 7 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes

Numbers 7 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• This chapter discusses the completion, anointing, and dedication of the Tabernacle, which Exodus 40 tells us occurred on the 1st day of the 1st month in the 2nd year after Israel left Egypt. Therefore, these events may have occurred prior to the events we read about in the earlier chapters which began in the 2nd month (Numbers 1:1). This is not a problem, as the book of Numbers never claims to be in chronological order.

• The year was approximately 1490-1489 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Moses – Moses was selected by God to lead the Israelites to Canaan. God spoke directly to Moses and Moses communicated God’s words to the people.    

• Families of the Levites – Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. They served the Lord by caring for the Tabernacle and the holy things.

• The Chiefs of Israel – These men were the “heads of their father’s houses and acted as representatives for their tribes. One man is listed from each of the 12 tribe: Nahshon, Nethanel, Eliab, Elizur, Shelumiel, Eliasaph, Elishama, Gamaliel, Abidan, Ahiezer, Pagiel, and Ahira.

WHERE:

• According to the book of Leviticus and Numbers 3:1, the Israelites were camped in the wilderness of Sinai, near Mount Sinai.

OUTLINE:

• OFFERINGS OF OXEN AND WAGONS FOR THE LORD’S SERVICE (7:1-9):

  • On the day when the Israelites finished erecting the Tabernacle and Moses had anointed the holy things, the chiefs of Israel brought an offering of 6 wagons and 12 oxen.

  • The oxen and wagons were given to the Levites to assist with transporting the Tabernacle when the camp of Israel travelled.

  • 2 wagons and 4 oxen were given to the family of Gershon.

  • 4 wagons and 8 oxen were given to the family of Merari.

  • The family of Kohath didn’t receive any wagons because they were responsible for transporting the holy items within the Tabernacle (Ark of the Covenant, incense altar, golden table, etc.) and those items were only to be carried on the shoulders of the Levites using golden poles.

• OFFERINGS FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE BRONZE ALTAR (7:10-89):

  • To dedicate the bronze altar in the Tabernacle courtyard, the chiefs of Israel brought offerings each day for 12 days.

  • Each chief brought the same gift.

  • “And his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old” (7:13-17).

  • This exact offering is repeated 12 times in chapter 7, which is why the chapter has 89 verses.

  • The final verse of Numbers 7 tells us Moses entered the Tabernacle and heard the voice of God speaking to him from the above the mercy seat, which sat on top of the Ark of the Covenant.

DIAGRAM OF THE CAMP OF ISRAEL:

DIAGRAM OF THE TABERNACLE: