NUMBERS LESSON 10


     We will begin this lesson in Numbers 7:1 "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;"

     Every item in the tabernacle was anointed and dedicated to the
service of God. Even the anointing oil that was used was holy. Exodus
30:25 "And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment
compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy
anointing oil." Exodus 30:26 "And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of
the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony," Exodus
30:27 "And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his
vessels, and the altar of incense," Exodus 30:28 "And the altar of
burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot." The
following is a little further expansion on this.  Exodus 40:9 "And
thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all
that [is] therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof:
and it shall be holy."

     Numbers 7:2 "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:"

     This is speaking of those who had been chosen to be the princes
over each of the tribes. They were head of the tribes, at the time of
the numbering. Each tribe had given what they should to God for use in
the tabernacle. The following is just one example of what they
brought. Exodus 35:27 "And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones
to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;"

     Numbers 7:3 "And they brought their offering before the LORD, six
covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and
for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle."

     These covered wagons were needed for transporting the things of
the tabernacle. This is a good example of God sending exactly what was
needed to do a certain job. The most important thing in giving, is to
make sure we give from a free heart.  Exodus 25:2 "Speak unto the
children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that
giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering."

     Numbers 7:4 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"

     In this case, Moses was not sure whether to accept this gift for
the tabernacle, and he needed an answer from God. The LORD answers
Moses.

     Numbers 7:5 "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."
     The boards and the heavy parts of the tabernacle, that had to be
carried from place to place would require covered wagons and oxen to
pull the heavy load. The LORD instructs Moses to receive the offering,
and give them to those who are called to carry the heavy burden of the
tabernacle. The person in charge of the burdens, will receive the
wagons and the oxen.

     Numbers 7:6 "And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave
them unto the Levites."

     The Levites are a large tribe. We will see that Moses gives them
to specific people of the Levites in the ministry of carrying the
tabernacle and setting it up.

     Numbers 7:7 "Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of
Gershon, according to their service:"

     Two wagons would be plenty to carry the curtains and the
furniture of the tabernacle. The tribe of Gershon was in charge of
them.

     Numbers 7:8 "And four wagons 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."

     It was necessary for the tribe of Merari to have four wagons,
because the boards to the tabernacle were large, heavy, and bulky.
This is not showing favoritism to this tribe. This is necessary for
the carrying of the material of the tabernacle. Ithamar, the son of
Aaron, we remember, was in charge of this. He supervised their
service.

     Numbers 7:9 "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."

     We remember, the sons of Kohath were in charge of the holy
things.  It would not be right for them to be handled with animals, or
on a cart. They are hand-carried by the members of the tribe chosen to
carry them. There would be no need for wagons, or oxen. They used
poles run through sockets to carry the heavier items.

     Numbers 7:10  "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."

     The altar was dedicated by pouring anointing oil over it. The
blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled on it, as well.  The offerings
from the princes were brought to be offered. Whether they were
actually offered on this particular day, or on another day, we have no
way of knowing.

     Numbers 7:11 "And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer
their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the
altar."

     This would cause you to believe the offerings of the princes
occurred on several days. They brought it to be offered earlier, but
rather than rush the whole thing through, they took a special time for
each to make his offering.

     Numbers 7:12  "And he that offered his offering the first day was
Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:"

     Now, we see the prince who represented the tribe of Judah,
Nashon, offered his offering on the first day.

     Numbers 7:13 "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:"

     This offering is of great value. You remember, that 5 shekels of
silver was the redemption price of the firstborn. The silver charger
weighed 5 pounds troy weight. The silver bowl weighed just under 3
pounds. We have touched before on the fact, that the meat offering is
made up of the makings of bread. Jesus is the Bread of life. He is,
also, the Meat offering. All of the offerings symbolize Jesus in some
way. "Silver" has to do with redemption.

     Numbers 7:14 "One spoon of ten [shekels] of gold, full of
incense:"

     "Gold" symbolizes the purity of God. The spoon would weigh 50
dwt.  of gold. The incense is to be burned, and rise to heaven. This
symbolizes the prayers of the saints that rise to heaven. Exodus 30:7
"And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he
dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it."  Exodus 30:8 "And
when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it,
a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations."

     Numbers 7:15 "One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first
year, for a burnt offering:"

     These burnt offerings were a shadow of better things to come.
Jesus was a male with no blemish.  The difference being, that the
blood of animals cannot do away with sin, it can just cover the sin.
The blood of Jesus, the perfect Lamb sacrifice, abolished sin for all
who would believe. Jesus was God the Son.

     Numbers 7:16 "One kid of the goats for a sin offering:"

     The burnt offering and the peace offering consisted of more than
one animal to be sacrificed. The sin offering consisted of just one
animal.

     Numbers 7:17 "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."

     The number two speaks of agreement. The number five speaks of the
grace of God. Nashon offered for his whole tribe.

     Numbers 7:18  "On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar,
prince of Issachar, did offer:"

     Nethaneel represented the tribe of Issachar.

     Numbers 7:19 "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:"

     This is the same offering Nashon made for the tribe of Judah.

     Numbers 7:20 "One spoon of gold of ten [shekels], full of
incense:"

     This is the same offering, also.

     Numbers 7:21 "One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first
year, for a burnt offering:" Numbers 7:22 "One kid of the goats for a
sin offering:" Numbers 7:23 "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."

     These offerings were on the second day. They were all made for
the entire tribe. Nethaneel represented the tribe of Issachar.

     Numbers 7:24  "On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of
the children of Zebulun, [did offer]:"

     Each of the tribes had their special day. Eliab represented the
tribe of Zebulon.

     Numbers 7:25 "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:"  Numbers 7:26 "
One golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense:" Numbers 7:27 "One
young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt
offering:" Numbers 7:28 "One kid of the goats for a sin offering:"
Numbers 7:29 "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."

     Again, this is the very same offering that the other two had
made. Each prince offers for his tribe he represented.




                        Numbers 10 Questions


1.  What did Moses anoint?
2.  Quote Exodus chapter 30 verses 25 through 28.
3.  What happened to everything that was anointed?
4.  Who offered in the tabernacle?
5.  Quote Exodus chapter 35 verse 27.
6.  How many covered wagons did they bring?
7.  How many oxen did they bring?
8.  Was this an acceptable offering?
9.  What would the covered wagons be used for?
10. Quote Exodus chapter 25 verse 2.
11. Who would use the wagons?
12. Two wagons and four oxen go to whom?
13. What were they responsible for transporting of the tabernacle?
14. Why did Merari get twice as many of each?
15. What was the reason Kohath did not get any?
16. How was the altar dedicated?
17. Who offered first?
18. What tribe did he represent?
19. How much did the silver charger weigh?
20. How much did the silver bowl weigh?
21. What was brought for a meat offering?
22. What does the meat offering symbolize?
23. How much gold was brought?
24. What did they do with the incense?
25. Quote Exodus chapter 30 verses 7 and 8.
26. What was brought for a burnt offering?
27. What is the difference in the blood of these animals sacrificed,
    and the blood of Jesus shed?
28. What was brought for a sin offering?
29. What was brought for a peace offering?
30. Who was Nashon's father?
31. Who offered on the second day?
32. What did he offer?
33. Who offered the third day?