Numbers Chapter 7

“And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, etc.] Not on the very exact day on which it was first reared up, for that was on the first day of the first month of the second year from the coming up of Israel out of Egypt, (<024017>Exodus 40:17); whereas the following offerings of the princes were not offered, and many other things previous to them, recorded in the preceding chapters, were not done, until after the first day of the second month of that year, (<040101>Numbers 1:1); though the Jews say f74 the first of Nisan, or of the first month, was the first for various things, and…”

“THE PRINCES' OFFERINGS. (Num. 7:1-89) the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle--Those who take the word "day" as literally pointing to the exact date of the completion of the tabernacle, are under a necessity of considering the sacred narrative as disjointed, and this portion of the history from the seventh to the eleventh chapters as out of its place--the chronology requiring that it should have immediately followed the fortieth chapter of Exodus, which relates that the tabernacle was reared on the first day of the first month of the second year [Exo 40:17]. But that the term "day" is used in a loose…”

“On the day that - i. e. “at the time that,” compare Genesis 2:4. The presentation of the gifts in fact occupied twelve days, as the sequel shows. The enactments set forth in the chapters from Leviticus 10:0 to Numbers 6:0 inclusive, were doubtless promulgated at various times between the consecration of the tabernacle and the departure from Sinai, but are for convenience set out connectedly. The contents of the present chapter are accordingly placed after them. The order pursued throughout is justly noted as one which would naturally suggest itself to a narrator who was contemporary with the events. return to…”

“On the day - It seems day is for time, and on the day, for about the time. For all the princes did not offer these things upon one and the same day, but on several days, as here it follows. And so this chapter comes in its proper place, and those things were done in the second month of the second year after the tabernacle and altar, and all other instruments thereof were anointed, as is here expressed; and after the Levites were separated to the service of the tabernacle, and appointed to their several works, which was done about a month after the tabernacle was erected, and after the numbering of the people,…”

“7:1-89 This detailed description of offerings presented by Israel’s twelve tribes at the dedication of the Tabernacle includes the dedicatory gifts brought on twelve successive days. 7:1 The day Moses set up the Tabernacle was the first day of the second year after the Exodus (Exod 40:1-2). • Once Moses finished setting up the Tabernacle, he anointed and set apart (or consecrated) its furnishings, the altar, and its utensils (cp. Exod 40:9-10; Lev 8:10-11). As the locus of sacrifice, the altar held special importance among the sacred furniture.”

“had fully: Exo 40:17-19 anointed it: Exo 30:23-30; Lev 8:10, Lev 8:11, 9:1-24 sanctified them: Gen 2:3; Exo 13:2; Kg1 8:64; Mat 23:19 Numbers 7:2”

“Presentation of Dedicatory Gifts by the Princes of the Tribes. - Num 7:1. This presentation took place at the time (יום) when Moses, after having completed the erection of the tabernacle, anointed and sanctified the dwelling and the altar, together with their furniture ( Lev 8:10-11). Chronologically considered, this ought to have been noticed after Lev 8:10. But in order to avoid interrupting the connection of the Sinaitic laws, it is introduced for the first time at this point, and placed at the head of the events which immediately preceded the departure of the people from Sinai, because these gifts consisted…”