BIBLES NET. COM
Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
on the Whole Bible
Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page
|
[Previous] [Next] |
Matthew Henry |
N U M B E R S
CHAP. VII.
God having set up house (as it were) in the midst of the camp of
Israel, the princes of Israel here come a visiting with their presents,
as tenants to their landlord, in the name of their respective tribes.
I. They brought presents,
1. Upon the dedication of the tabernacle, for the service of that,
2. Upon the dedication of the altar, for the use of that,
And,
II. God graciously signified his acceptance of them,
The two foregoing chapters were the records of additional laws which
God gave to Israel, this is the history of the additional services
which Israel performed to God.
| The Offerings of the Princes. | B. C. 1490. |
|
|
|
1 And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up
the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all
the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels
thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;
2 That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their
fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them
that were numbered, offered:
3 And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered
waggons, and twelve oxen; a waggon for two of the princes, and for
each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.
4 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
5 Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the
tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the
Levites, to every man according to his service.
6 And Moses took the waggons and the oxen, and gave them unto
the Levites.
7 Two waggons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon,
according to their service:
8 And four waggons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of
Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar
the son of Aaron the priest.
9 But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service
of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear
upon their shoulders.
Here is the offering of the princes to the service of the tabernacle.
Observe,
I. When it was; not till it was fully set up,
v. 1.
When all things were done both about the tabernacle itself, and the
camp of Israel which surrounded it, according to the directions given,
then they began their presents, probably about the eighth day of the
second month. Note, Necessary observances must always take place of
free-will offerings: first those, and then these.
II. Who it was that offered: The princes of Israel, heads of the
house of their fathers,
v. 2.
Note, Those that are above others in power and dignity ought to go
before others, and endeavour to go beyond them, in every thing that is
good. The more any are advanced the more is expected from them, on
account of the greater opportunity they have of serving God and their
generation. What are wealth and authority good for, but as they enable
a man to do so much the more good in the world?
III. What was offered: six wagons, with each of them a yoke of oxen to
draw them,
v. 3.
Doubtless these wagons were agreeable to the rest of the furniture of
the tabernacle and its appurtenances, the best of the kind, like the
carriages which great princes use when they go in procession. Some
think that God, by Moses, intimated to them what they should bring, or
their own consideration perhaps suggested to them to make this present.
Though God’s wisdom had ordained all the essentials of the tabernacle,
yet it seems these accidental conveniences were left to be provided by
their own discretion, which was to set in order that which was wanting
(Tit. i. 5),
and these wagons were not refused, though no pattern of them was shown
to Moses in the mount. Note, It must not be expected that the divine
institution of ordinances should descend to all those circumstances
which are determinable, and are fit to be left alterable, by human
prudence, that wisdom which is profitable to direct. Observe, No sooner
is the tabernacle fully set up than this provision is made for the
removal of it. Note, Even when we are but just settled in the world,
and think we are beginning to take root, we must be preparing for
changes and removes, especially for the great change. While we are here
in this world, every thing must be accommodated to a militant and
movable state. When the tabernacle was framing, the princes were very
generous in their offerings, for then they brought precious stones,
and stones to be set
yet now they bring more presents. Note, Those that have done good
should study to abound therein yet more and more, and not be weary
of well-doing.
IV. How the offering was disposed of, and what use was made of it: the
wagons and oxen were given to the Levites, to be used in carrying the
tabernacle, both for their ease (for God would not have any of his
servants overburdened with work), and for the more safe and right
conveyance of the several parts of the tabernacle, which would be best
kept together, and sheltered from the weather, in wagons.
1. The Gershonites, that had the light carriage, the curtains and
hangings, had but two wagons, and two yoke of oxen
(v. 7);
when they had loaded these, they must carry the rest, if any remained,
upon their shoulders.
2. The Merarites, that had the heavy carriage, and that which was most
unwieldy, the boards, pillars, sockets, &c., had four wagons, and four
yoke of oxen allotted them
(v. 8);
and yet, if they had not more wagons of their own, they would be
obliged to carry a great deal upon their backs too, for the silver
sockets alone weighed 100 talents, which was above four tons, and that
was enough to load four wagons that were drawn but by one yoke of oxen
a-piece. But each socket being a talent weight, which is about a man’s
burden (as appears,
probably they carried those on their backs, and put the boards and
pillars into the wagons. Observe here, How God wisely and graciously
ordered the most strength to those that had the most work. Each had
wagons according to their service. Whatever burden God in his
providence lays upon us, he will by his sufficient grace proportion the
strength to it,
3. The Kohathites, that had the most sacred carriage, had no wagons at
all, because they were to carry their charge upon their shoulders
(v. 9),
with a particular care and veneration. When in David’s time they
carried the ark in a cart, God made them to know to their terror, by
the death of Uzza, that they did not seek him in the due order.
See
10 And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the
day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering
before the altar.
11 And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their
offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the
altar.
12 And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon
the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:
13 And his offering was one silver charger, the weight
thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of
seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them
were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
14 One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense:
15 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for
a burnt offering:
16 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
17 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 Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
18 On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of
Issachar, did offer:
19 He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight
whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of
seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them
full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
20 One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense:
21 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for
a burnt offering:
22 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
23 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 Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
24 On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the
children of Zebulun, did offer:
25 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof
was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy
shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of
fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
26 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
27 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for
a burnt offering:
28 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
29 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 Eliab the son of Helon.
30 On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the
children of Reuben, did offer:
31 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an
hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels,
after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine
flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
32 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
33 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for
a burnt offering:
34 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
35 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 Elizur the son of Shedeur.
36 On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of
the children of Simeon, did offer:
37 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof
was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy
shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of
fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
38 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
39 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for
a burnt offering:
40 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
41 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 Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
42 On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the
children of Gad, offered:
43 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an
hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels,
after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine
flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
44 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
45 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for
a burnt offering:
46 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
47 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 Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
48 On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of
the children of Ephraim, offered:
49 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof
was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy
shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of
fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
50 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
51 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for
a burnt offering:
52 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
53 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.
54 On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur,
prince of the children of Manasseh:
55 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an
hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels,
after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine
flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
56 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
57 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for
a burnt offering:
58 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
59 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 Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
60 On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the
children of Benjamin, offered:
61 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof
was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy
shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of
fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
62 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
63 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for
a burnt offering:
64 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
65 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 Abidan the son of Gideoni.
66 On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of
the children of Dan, offered:
67 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof
was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy
shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of
fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
68 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
69 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for
a burnt offering:
70 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
71 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 Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
72 On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the
children of Asher, offered:
73 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof
was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy
shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of
fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
74 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
75 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for
a burnt offering:
76 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
77 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 Pagiel the son of Ocran.
78 On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the
children of Naphtali, offered:
79 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof
was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy
shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of
fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
80 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
81 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for
a burnt offering:
82 One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
83 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 Ahira the son of Enan.
84 This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it
was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of
silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold:
85 Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty
shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed
two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the
sanctuary:
86 The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing
ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the
gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels.
87 All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks,
the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their
meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve.
88 And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings
were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats
sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the
dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.
89 And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the
congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one
speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark
of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto
him.
We have here an account of the great solemnity of dedicating the
altars, both that of burnt-offerings and that of incense; they had been
sanctified before, when they were anointed
but now they were handselled, as it were, by the princes, with their
free-will offerings. They began the use of them with rich presents,
great expressions of joy and gladness, and extraordinary respect to
those tokens of God’s presence with them. Now observe here,
I. That the princes and great men were first and forwardest in the
service of God. Those that are entitled to precedency should go before
in good works, and that is true honour. Here is an example to the
nobility and gentry, those that are in authority and of the first rank
in their country; they ought to improve their honour and power, their
estate and interest, for the promoting of religion, and the service of
God, in the places where they live. It is justly expected that those
who have more than others should do more good than others with what
they have, else they are unfaithful stewards, and will not make up
their account with joy. Nay, great men must not only with their
wealth and power assist and protect those that serve God, but they must
make conscience of being devout and religious themselves, and employing
themselves in the exercises of piety, which will greatly redound to the
honour of God
and have a good influence upon others, who will be the more easily
persuaded to acts of devotion when they see them thus brought into
reputation. It is certain that the greatest of men is less than the
least of the ordinances of God; nor are the meanest services of
religion any disparagement to those that make the greatest figure in
the world.
II. The offerings they brought were very rich and valuable, so rich
that some think there was not so great a difference in estate between
them and others as that they were able to bear the expense of them
themselves, but that the heads of each tribe contributed to the
offering which their prince brought.
1. They brought some things to remain for standing service, twelve
large silver dishes, each about sixty ounces weight, as many large
silver cups, or bowls, of about thirty-five ounces–the former to be
used for the meat-offerings, the latter for the drink-offerings–the
former for the flesh of the sacrifices, the latter for the blood. The
latter was God’s table (as it were), and it was fit that so great a
King should be served in plate. The golden spoons being filled with
incense were intended, it is probable, for the service of the golden
altar, for both the altars were anointed at the same time. Note, In
works of piety and charity we ought to be generous according as our
ability is. He that is the best should be served with the best we have.
The Israelites indeed might well afford to part with their gold and
silver in abundance to the service of the sanctuary, for they needed it
not to buy meat and victual their camp, being daily fed with bread from
heaven; nor did they need it to buy land, or pay their army, for they
were shortly to be put in possession of Canaan.
2. They brought some things to be used immediately, offerings of each
sort, burnt-offerings, sin-offerings, and a great many peace-offerings
(on part of which they were to feast with their friends), and the
meat-offerings that were to be annexed to them. Hereby they signified
their thankful acceptance of, and cheerful submission to, all those
laws concerning the sacrifices which God had lately by Moses delivered
to them. And, though it was a time of joy and rejoicing, yet it is
observable that still in the midst of their sacrifices we find a
sin-offering. Since in our best services we are conscious to
ourselves that there is a mixture of sin, it is fit that there should
be even in our most joyful services a mixture of repentance. In all our
approaches to God, we must by faith have an eye to Christ as the great
sin-offering, and make mention of him.
3. They brought their offerings each on a separate day, in the order
that they had been lately put into, so that the solemnity lasted twelve
days. So God appointed
(v. 11):
They shall bring their offering, each prince on his day, and so
they did. One sabbath must needs fall within the twelve days, if not
two, but it should seem they did not intermit on the sabbath, for it
was holy work, proper enough for a holy day. God appointed that it
should thus be done on several days,
(1.) That solemnity might be prolonged, and so might be universally
taken notice of by all Israel, and the remembrance of it more
effectually preserved.
(2.) That an equal honour might thereby be put upon each tribe
respectively; in Aaron’s breast-plate each had his precious stone, so
in this offering each had his day.
(3.) Thus it would be done more decently and in order; God’s work
should not be done confusedly, and in a hurry; take time, and we shall
have done the sooner, or at least we shall have done the better.
(4.) God hereby signified how much pleased he is, and how much pleased
we should be, with the exercises of piety and devotion. The repetition
of them should be a continual pleasure to us, and we must not be weary
of well doing. If extraordinary service be required to be done for
twelve days together, we must not shrink from it, nor call it a task
and a burden.
(5.) The priests and Levites, having this occasion to offer the same
sacrifices, and those some of every sort, every day, for so many days
together, would have their hands well set in, and would be well versed
in the laws concerning them.
(6.) The peace-offerings were all to be eaten the same day they were
offered, and two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five lambs, were
enough for one day’s festival; had there been more, especially if all
had been brought on one day, there might have been danger of excess.
The virtue of temperance must not be left, under pretence of the
religion of feasting.
4. All their offerings were exactly the same, without any variation,
though it is probable that neither the princes nor the tribes were all
alike rich; but thus it was intimated that all the tribes of Israel had
an equal share in the altar, and an equal interest in the sacrifices
that were offered upon it. Though one tribe was posted more honourably
in the camp than another, yet they and their services were all alike
acceptable to God. Nor must we have faith of our Lord Jesus Christ
with respect to persons,
Jam. ii. 1.
5. Nahshon, the prince of the tribe of Judah, offered first, because
God had given that tribe the first post of honour in the camp; and the
rest of the tribes acquiesced, and offered in the same order in which
God had appointed them to encamp. Judah, of which tribe Christ came,
first, and then the rest; thus, in the dedication of souls to God,
every man is presented in his own order, Christ the
first-fruits,
1 Cor. xv. 23.
Some observe that Nahshon is the only one that is not expressly called
a prince
(v. 12),
which the Jews give this account of: he is not called a prince, that he
might not be puffed up because he offered first; and all the others are
called princes because they (though some of them of the elder house)
submitted, and offered after him. Or, because the title of prince of
Judah did more properly belong to Christ, for unto him shall the
gathering of the people be.
6. Though the offerings were all the same, yet the account of them is
repeated at large for each tribe, in the same words. We are sure there
are no vain repetitions in scripture; what then shall we make of these
repetitions? Might it not have served to say of this noble jury that
the same offering which their foreman brought each on his day brought
likewise? No, God would have it specified for each tribe: and why so?
(1.) It was for the encouragement of these princes, and of their
respective tribes, that each of their offerings being recorded at large
no slight might seem to be put upon them; for rich and poor meet
together before God.
(2.) It was for the encouragement of all generous acts of piety and
charity, by letting us know that what is so given is lent to the Lord,
and he carefully records it, with every one’s name prefixed to his
gift, because what is so given he will pay again, and even a cup of
cold water shall have its reward. He is not unrighteous, to
forget either the cost or the labour of love,
Heb. vi. 10.
We find Christ taking particular notice of what was cast into the
treasury,
Though what is offered be but little, though it be a contribution to
the charity of others, yet if it be according to our ability it shall
be recorded, that it may be recompensed in the resurrection of the
just.
7. The sum total is added at the foot of the account
(v. 84-88),
to show how much God was pleased with the mention of his
freewill-offerings, and what a great deal they amounted to in the
whole, when every prince brought in his quota! How greatly would the
sanctuary of God be enriched and beautified if all would in their
places do their part towards it, by exemplary purity and devotion,
extensive charity, and universal usefulness!
8. God signified his gracious acceptance of these presents that were
brought him, by speaking familiarly to Moses, as a man speaks to his
friend, from off the mercy-seat
and in speaking to him he did in effect speak to all Israel, showing
them this token for good,
Note, By this we may know that God hears and accepts our prayers if he
gives us grace to hear and receive his word, for thus our communion
with him is maintained and kept up. I know not why we may not suppose
that upon each of the days on which these offerings were brought
(probably while the priests and offerers were feasting upon the
peace-offerings) Moses was in the tabernacle, receiving some of those
laws and orders which we have already met with in this and the
foregoing book. And here the excellent bishop Patrick observes that
God’s speaking to Moses thus by an audible articulate voice, as if he
had been clothed with a holy body, might be looked upon as an earnest
of the incarnation of the Son of God in the fulness of time, when the
Word should be made flesh, and speak in the language of the sons of
men. For, however God at sundry times and in divers manners spoke
unto the fathers, he has in these last days spoken unto us by his
Son. And that he who now spoke to Moses, as the shechinah or
divine Majesty, from between the cherubim, was the eternal Word, the
second person in the Trinity, was the pious conjecture of many of the
ancients; for all God’s communion with man is by his Son, by whom he
made the world, and rules the church, and who is the same yesterday,
to-day, and for ever.
|
[Previous] [Next] |
Matthew Henry |
|
Back to Bibles Net . Com – Online Christian Library Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary – Free Download |
Copyright 2008. Bibles Net. Com. All Rights Reserved.