Numbers 7:2

“That the princes of Israel, etc.] The princes of the twelve tribes of Israel: heads of the house of their fathers; of the each of the houses and families the tribes were divided into, and took their name from each of their ancestors, as is next explained: who were princes of the tribes; the twelve tribes, as before observed, (<040104>Numbers 1:4-16); and were over them that were numbered; over the children of Israel that were numbered, (<040119>Numbers 1:19-46); by which it that these princes are the very same persons that are mentioned by name there, as they are here afterwards; and were with Moses and Aaron, and assisting to them when they took the number of them; but according to the…”

“the princes of Israel . . . brought their offering before the Lord--The finishing of the sacred edifice would, it may well be imagined, be hailed as an auspicious occasion, diffusing great joy and thankfulness throughout the whole population of Israel. But the leading men, not content with participating in the general expression of satisfaction, distinguished themselves by a movement, which, while purely spontaneous, was at the same time so appropriate in the circumstances and so equal in character, as indicates it to have been the result of concerted and previous arrangement. It was an offer of the means of carriage, suitable to the migratory state of the nation in the wilderness, for…”

“Offered - In the manner and days hereafter mentioned. Numbers 7:3”

“7:2-9 The same tribal leaders that assisted in the registration of ch 1 are found in 7:2-3. The non-Levitical tribes supplied the Gershonites and Merarites with the wagons and oxen needed to transport the heavy structural components of the Tabernacle and other items (cp. ch 4). • These vehicles and draft animals were the first offerings from the Hebrew tribes (7:2); these practical gifts were accompanied by more elaborate dedicatory offerings that were also presented by the tribal leaders (7:10, 12-83).”

“the princes: Num 1:4-16, 2:1-34, 10:1-36 and were over: etc. Heb. who stood offered: Exo 35:27; Ch1 29:6-8; Ch2 35:8; Ezr 2:68, Ezr 2:69; Neh 7:70-72 Numbers 7:3”

“The presentation of six waggons and twelve oxen for the carriage of the materials of the tabernacle is mentioned first, and was no doubt the first thing that took place. The princes of Israel, viz., the heads of the tribe-houses (fathers' houses), or princes of the tribes (see Num 1:4.), "those who stood over those that were numbered," i.e., who were their leaders or rulers, offered as their sacrificial gift six covered waggons and twelve oxen, one ox for each prince, and a waggon for every two. צב עגלת, ἁμάξας λαμπηνίκας (lxx), i.e., according to Euseb. Emis., two-wheeled vehicles, though the Greek scholiasts explain λαμπήνη as signifying ἅμαξα περιφανής, βασιλικὴ and ῥέδιον…”