Numbers 10

Numbers 10

Numbers 10:1 Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said,

Numbers 10:2 “Make two silver trumpets. You will make them of hammered work, and you will use them for convening the congregation and for breaking camp.

Numbers 10:3 And when both are blown, all the congregation will gather themselves to you at the entrance of the conference tent.

Numbers 10:4 But if they blow only one, then the leaders, the heads of the tribes of Israel, should gather themselves to you.

Numbers 10:5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side will advance.

Numbers 10:6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side will advance. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out.

Numbers 10:7 But when the assembly is to be collected, you will blow a long blast, but you will not sound an alarm.

Numbers 10:8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, will blow the trumpets. The trumpets will be to you for a permanent prescription throughout your generations.

Numbers 10:9 And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you will sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered in the sight of Yahveh your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.

Numbers 10:10 On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you will blow the trumpets over your ascending offerings and over the sacrifices of your offering for healthy relationships. They will be a reminder of you in the sight of your God: I am Yahveh your God.”

Numbers 10:11 Then in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, this happened: the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the reminder,

Numbers 10:12 and the sons of Israel advanced by stages from the Sinai open country. And the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran.

Numbers 10:13 They advanced for the first time at the command of Yahveh by Moses.

Numbers 10:14 The standard of the camp of the people of Judah advanced first by their companies, and over their company was Nachshon the son of Amminadab.

Numbers 10:15 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar.

Numbers 10:16 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.

Numbers 10:17 And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, advanced.

Numbers 10:18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben advanced by their companies, and over their company was Elitsur the son of Shedeur.

Numbers 10:19 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

Numbers 10:20 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Gad was Elyasaph the son of Deuel.

Numbers 10:21 Then the Kohathites advanced, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival.

Numbers 10:22 And the standard of the camp of the people of Ephraim advanced by their companies, and over their company was Elishama the son of Ammihud.

Numbers 10:23 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

Numbers 10:24 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.

Numbers 10:25 Then the standard of the camp of the people of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps, advanced by their companies, and over their company was Achiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

Numbers 10:26 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ochran.

Numbers 10:27 And over the company of the tribe of the people of Naphtali was Achira the son of Enan.

Numbers 10:28 This was the order of march of the people of Israel by their companies, when they advanced.

Numbers 10:29 And Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are advancing for the place of which Yahveh said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do good to you, because Yahveh has promised good to Israel.”

Numbers 10:30 But he said to him, “I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred.”

Numbers 10:31 And he said, “Please do not leave us, because you know where we should camp in the open country, and you will serve as eyes for us.

Numbers 10:32 And if you do go with us, whatever good Yahveh will do to us, the same will we do to you.”

Numbers 10:33 So they advanced from the mount of Yahveh for a three days’ journey. And the ark of the covenant of Yahveh went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them.

Numbers 10:34 And the cloud of Yahveh was over them by day, whenever they advanced from the camp.

Numbers 10:35 And whenever the ark advanced, Moses said, “Arise, O Yahveh, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you run away before you.”

Numbers 10:36 And when it rested, he said, “Return, O Yahveh, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”

Numbers 10 quotes:

“Every now and then, a hymn is sung the way it’s supposed to be sung, a day is lived the way it’s supposed to be lived, a congregation moves out in service the way it’s supposed to move out in service. This day, for Israel, is just such a day. For once, everything and everyone is in order. For once, no one is arguing about what they should do. Like that great day when God said, “Go,” and Abram went, or when Jesus said, “Come, follow,” and the disciples came and followed, this is a time when God’s creatures do what they are created to do.”

Boyce Richard Nelson. Leviticus and Numbers. 1st ed. Westminster John Knox Press 2008. p. 140.

“Whatever the soldiers’ frame of mind, valiant or diffident, all needed to be assured of the Lord’s promised help; and that blast on the trumpets was to remind them that they were remembered by the LorD … and rescued from their enemies (9). The Lord had given his word that he would be alongside them in every conflict situation, assuring them that they would be rescued from their enemies. With the sound of that cheering trumpet blast, reminding them of the divine promise, they could go out to face the worst of oppressors.”

Brown Raymond. The Message of Numbers : Journey to the Promised Land. InterVarsity Press 2002. pp. 78-79.

“Both the reconciling of people to God by the Lord Jesus Christ and the giving of the Holy Spirit into their hearts to comfort them and to guide them must eventuate in action. We need to pay attention to the message of James that faith without works is dead. We must put our ideas into practice.”

Gutzke, Manford George. Plain Talk on Leviticus and Numbers. Zondervan Pub. House., 1981. p. 82.

“Whenever both trumpets sounded, the entire community would assemble before Moses at the tent of meeting. But if one trumpet sounded, only the leaders would be summoned to appear before Moses. When the tribes were to break camp and move on, the signal was a blast, evidently a different sound than the signal for gathering them together, which required a blow. The latter was probably a longer sound.
Aaron and his sons were to blow the trumpets. The Lord directed them to observe this procedure as a lasting ordinance. He also provided two other uses of the trumpet—a battle cry to arms when attacked by an enemy and a summons to feast days. The first alarm looked forward to the nation residing in the land. Before they drew arms, they would sound the trumpets as a means of asking for God’s help in engaging their enemies. The other use of the trumpet came during the observance of important feast days.”

Martin, Glen, and Max E. Anders. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. Broadman & Holman, 2002. p. 295.

“They were straight pipes, a little less than 18 in. (45cm) long with a flared opening at the end. They could be blown in various ways to give different signals. What distinguished blowing and sounding an alarm is uncertain. But if we follow Jewish tradition, long blasts (Hebrew tāqa‘, RSV blow) were used to assemble people to Moses, to the tent of meeting and for worship (3–4, 10).”

Wenham, Gordon J.. Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Book 4) (pp. 114-115). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

Numbers 10 links:

a confident walk
passing on the blessing
ready to go
trademark trumpets

The NUMBERS shelf in Jeff’s library

Numbers 9

Numbers 9

Numbers 9:1 And Yahveh spoke to Moses in the open country of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, and this is what he said.

Numbers 9:2 “Let the people of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time.

Numbers 9:3 On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you will keep it at its appointed time; according to all its prescriptions and all its rules, you will keep it.”

Numbers 9:4 So Moses told the people of Israel that they should keep the Passover.

Numbers 9:5 And they kept the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, in the open country of Sinai; according to all that Yahveh commanded Moses, so the people of Israel did.

Numbers 9:6 Certain men had been contaminated because they had touched a dead throat, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day, and they came in the sight of Moses and Aaron on that day.

Numbers 9:7 And those men said to him, “We are contaminated because we have touched a dead throat. Why are we kept from bringing Yahveh’s offering at its appointed time among the people of Israel?”

Numbers 9:8 And Moses said to them, “Wait, that I may hear what Yahveh will command concerning you.”

Numbers 9:9 Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said,

Numbers 9:10 “Speak to the people of Israel, and this is what you should say: If any one of you or your descendants is contaminated because he has touched a dead throat, or is on a long journey, he will still keep the Passover to Yahveh.

Numbers 9:11 In the second month, on the fourteenth day at twilight, they will keep it. They will eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

Numbers 9:12 They will leave none of it until the morning, nor break any of its bones; according to all the prescriptions for the Passover, they will keep it.

Numbers 9:13 But if anyone who is pure and is not on a journey fails to keep the Passover, that throat will be eliminated from his people because he did not bring Yahveh’s offering at its appointed time; that man will pay for his failure.

Numbers 9:14 And if a foreign guest[1] sojourns among you and wants to keep the Passover to Yahveh, according to the prescription of the Passover and according to its rule, so will he do. You will have one prescription, both for the foreign guest and for the native.”

Numbers 9:15 On the day that the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the Tabernacle, the tent of the reminder. And in the evening, it was over the Tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning.

Numbers 9:16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night.

Numbers 9:17 And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that, the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped.

Numbers 9:18 At the command of Yahveh, the people of Israel set out, and at the command of Yahveh, they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.

Numbers 9:19 Even when the cloud continued over the Tabernacle for many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of Yahweh and did not set out.

Numbers 9:20 Sometimes, the cloud stayed a few days over the Tabernacle, and according to Yahveh’s command, they remained in camp; then, according to Yahveh’s command, they set out.

Numbers 9:21 And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted, they set out.

Numbers 9:22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, staying there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted, they set out.

Numbers 9:23 At the command of Yahveh, they camped, and at the command of Yahveh, they set out. They kept the charge of Yahveh at the command of Yahveh Moses.

[1] גֵּר = foreign guest. Numbers 9:14; 15:14, 15, 16, 26, 29, 30; 19:10; 35:15.

Numbers 9 quotes:

“The rise and fall of Passover observance is seen throughout Israel’s history as one sure test for diagnosing the nation’s spiritual health. What is true for the group is also true for the individual. Here, for perhaps the first time, the sin of omission is cited as being as heinous as the sin of commission. Namely, it is as bad not to partake when clean, as it is to partake when unclean (v. 13). The threat of “cutting off” is the same threat levied against the long list of ritual violations in Leviticus 20.”

Boyce Richard Nelson. Leviticus and Numbers. 1st ed. Westminster John Knox Press 2008. p. 132

“Hudson Taylor reminded his missionary colleagues that the Christian’s response to daunting situations was best expressed in a terse phrase: ‘Impossible? Difficult. Done!’ Those words eloquently describe the Israelite people’s experience of liberation. Humanly speaking, it was Feo impossible. As God began to work on the hardened Egyptian ruler, the situation became unquestionably difficult, but because the Lord was omnipotently at work it was miraculously done. Passover assured these pilgrims that the Lord who brought them out of one country could certainly bring them into another.”

Brown Raymond. The Message of Numbers : Journey to the Promised Land. InterVarsity Press 2002. p. 72.

“When the children of Israel had been brought out of Egypt by the goodness and power of God, Moses told them what God wanted them to do to make sure they would remember Him. He didn’t want His acts to become ordinary to them. At the Red Sea Israel had been delivered from the power of Egypt, so that they were free to journey to Canaan. But they were not so free that they could direct their own steps. The almighty God led Moses to guide them by establishing certain times in their calendar when they would remember God especially. God would always be their refuge and their stronghold, but they needed to remember this in a special way.”

Gutzke, Manford George. Plain Talk on Leviticus and Numbers. Zondervan Pub. House., 1981. p. 79.

“The Lord responded to Moses’ inquiry by allowing those Israelites to celebrate the feast on the following month. The intervening month probably allowed the defiled individuals time to observe ritual cleansing. In one final perilous reminder, the Lord warned the community to observe the feast without excuse. Failure to do so would result in death. Foreigners could observe the feast at the regular time.”

Martin, Glen, and Max E. Anders. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. Broadman & Holman, 2002. p. 294.

“The real and visible presence of God among his people was his response to their obedience in building the tabernacle (15). But this section is placed immediately after the account of the celebration of the second passover. The cloud of God’s presence first appeared after the first passover (Exod. 13:21–22). The tabernacle could be built only once, but the festivals of redemption were to be celebrated regularly. This narrative, therefore, looks beyond the wilderness situation, in which Israel could follow God’s leading in an immediate way, to a time when its faithfulness to the LORD would be demonstrated by their keeping of the festivals.”

Wenham, Gordon J.. Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Book 4) (pp. 113-114). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

Numbers 9 links:

a walk remembering the LORD’s deliverance
Dead souls, dying souls
guidance for the day
seeking his solution
walking at the command of the LORD

The NUMBERS shelf in Jeff’s library

Numbers 8

Numbers 8

Numbers 8:1 Now Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said,

Numbers 8:2 “Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps will give light in front of the lampstand.”

Numbers 8:3 And Aaron did so: he set up its lamps in front of the lampstand, as Yahveh commanded Moses.

Numbers 8:4 And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work according to the pattern that Yahveh had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.

Numbers 8:5 And Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said

Numbers 8:6 “Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and purify them.

Numbers 8:7 Thus you will do to them to purify them: spritz the water of purification upon them and let them go with a razor over all their body and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves.

Numbers 8:8 Then let them take a bull from the herd and its tribute offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you will take another bull from the herd for a failure offering.

Numbers 8:9 And you will bring the Levites in the sight of the conference tent and collect the whole congregation of the people of Israel.

Numbers 8:10 When you bring the Levites in the sight of Yahveh, the people of Israel will lay their hands on the Levites,

Numbers 8:11—Aaron will offer the Levites in the sight of Yahveh as a presentation offering from the people of Israel so that they may serve Yahveh.

Numbers 8:12 Then the Levites will lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you will offer the one for a failure offering and the other for an ascending offering to Yahveh to provide reconciliation for the Levites.

Numbers 8:13 You will set the Levites at the face of Aaron and his sons and offer them as a presentation offering to Yahveh.

Numbers 8:14 “Thus you will separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites will be mine.

Numbers 8:15 And after that, the Levites will go in to serve at the conference tent, when you have purified them and offered them as a presentation offering.

Numbers 8:16 Because they are wholly given to me from among the people of Israel. Instead of all who open the uterus, the firstborn of all the people of Israel, I have taken them for myself.

Numbers 8:17 Because all the firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of human and of animal. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated them for myself,

Numbers 8:18 and I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel.

Numbers 8:19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel, to do the service for the people of Israel at the conference tent and to provide reconciliation for the people of Israel, that there may be no plague among the people of Israel when the people of Israel come near the sanctuary.”

Numbers 8:20 This is what Moses, Aaron, and all the congregation of the people of Israel did to the Levites. According to all that Yahveh commanded Moses concerning the Levites, the people of Israel did to them.

Numbers 8:21 And the Levites purified themselves from any failure. They washed their clothes, and Aaron offered them as a presentation offering in the sight of Yahveh, and Aaron made atonement for them to purify them.

Numbers 8:22 And after that, the Levites went in to do their service in the conference tent in the sight of Aaron and his sons; as Yahveh had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.

Numbers 8:23 And Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said

Numbers 8:24 “This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they will come to do duty in the service of the conference tent.

Numbers 8:25 And from the age of fifty years, they will withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more.

Numbers 8:26 They minister to their brothers in the conference tent by keeping guard, but they will do no service. This is what you will do to the Levites in assigning their duties.”

Numbers 8 quotes:

“The only sanctuary furnishing given special attention at this time is the preparation of the lampstand for service. More particularly, Aaron is reminded of the positioning of the lamps in connection with the lampstand, so as to provide light in front of the stand (v. 2). What is in front of the lampstand? The things of God: ark, table, and bread of presence. What is behind the stand? The worshiper, who has come iy Searen of Cod’ presence.

Before setting out; the péople are in effect reminded: “As much as you might like a light to illumine the path ahead, or the faces of your fellow travelers beside you, if you light one light, shine it on these things. It is the vision of these things that will keep you moving forward even when the way is not clear.””

Boyce Richard Nelson. Leviticus and Numbers. 1st ed. Westminster John Knox Press 2008. p. 129.

“The Levites were offered to God by the people. The whole Israelite community (9) were to lay their hands on them (10). Publicly, in front of the Tent of Meeting (9), they were set … apart (14) by the laying on of hands, and so designated to serve as substitutes on behalf of the other tribes. Whenever they functioned as associates and partners with the priesthood, they were doing their work in the place of others.
They were a permanent visual aid, a daily reminder to God’s people of their unique redemption, having been given in place of the firstborn (16). Whenever they were seen about the camp, their fellow pilgrims recalled the great event of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt (17) when Egypt’s firstborn were all slain and God’s people alone were redeemed.”

Brown Raymond. The Message of Numbers : Journey to the Promised Land. InterVarsity Press 2002. p. 68.

“Once the Levites were ordained for their service, they could enter into their duties. They stood in close relation to the Lord by calling, and hence the Lord himself was their inheritance. The Lord required the entire firstborn of all the Israelites and accepted this tribe in their stead (see Exod. 13:2,12; Num. 3:12-13). Any violation of this decree would result in a judgment of plague.”

Martin, Glen, and Max E. Anders. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. Broadman & Holman, 2002. p. 285.

“Light and fire represent the life-giving presence and blessing of God (e.g. Exod. 13:21–22). Thus Aaron had to arrange the lamps so that their light always illuminated the shewbread. This arrangement portrayed visually God’s intention that his people should live continually in his presence and enjoy the blessing mediated by his priests.”

Wenham, Gordon J.. Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Book 4) (p. 107). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

Numbers 8 links:

a walk in service to the LORD
cleansing before service
proper focus
serving while we can

Maranatha Daily Devotional – Monday, April 29, 2019
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Monday, April 29, 2024
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Monday, May 1, 2023

Numbers 7

Numbers 7

Numbers 7:1 On the day when Moses had finished setting up the Tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils,

Numbers 7:2 the leaders of Israel, heads of their fathers’ houses, who were the leaders of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached

Numbers 7:3 and brought their offerings in the sight of Yahveh, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the leaders, and for each one an ox. They brought them to the face of the tabernacle.

Numbers 7:4 Then Yahveh said to Moses,

Numbers 7:5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the conference tent, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.”

Numbers 7:6 So Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites.

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

Numbers 7:8 And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar, the son of Aaron, the priest.

Numbers 7:9 But to the sons of Kohath, he gave none because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder.

Numbers 7:10 And the leaders offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed, and the leaders offered their offering in the sight of the altar.

Numbers 7:11 And Yahveh said to Moses, “They will offer their offerings, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.”

Numbers 7:12 The first day’s offering was made by Nachshon, the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah.

Numbers 7:13 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 tribute offering;

Numbers 7:14 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;

Numbers 7:15 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for an ascending offering;

Numbers 7:16 one male goat for a failure offering;

Numbers 7:17 and for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationships, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nachshon the son of Amminadab.

Numbers 7:18 On the second day, Nethanel, the son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, made an offering.

Numbers 7:19 He offered for his offering 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 tribute offering;

Numbers 7:20 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;

Numbers 7:21 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for an ascending offering;

Numbers 7:22 one male goat for a failure offering;

Numbers 7:23 and for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationships, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel, the son of Zuar.

Numbers 7:24 On the third day, Eliab, the son of Helon, the leader of the people of Zebulun:

Numbers 7:25 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 tribute offering;

Numbers 7:26 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;

Numbers 7:27 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for an ascending offering;

Numbers 7:28 one male goat for a failure offering;

Numbers 7:29 and for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationships, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab, the son of Helon.

Numbers 7:30 On the fourth day, Elitsur, the son of Shedeur, the leader of the people of Reuben:

Numbers 7:31 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 tribute offering;

Numbers 7:32 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;

Numbers 7:33 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for an ascending offering;

Numbers 7:34 one male goat for a failure offering;

Numbers 7:35 and for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationships, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elitsur the son of Shedeur.

Numbers 7:36 On the fifth day, Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai, the chief of the people of Simeon:

Numbers 7:37 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 tribute offering;

Numbers 7:38 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;

Numbers 7:39 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for an ascending offering;

Numbers 7:40 one male goat for a failure offering;

Numbers 7:41 and for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationships, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai.

Numbers 7:42 On the sixth day, Elyasaph, the son of Deuel, the chief of the people of Gad:

Numbers 7:43 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 tribute offering;

Numbers 7:44 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;

Numbers 7:45 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for an ascending offering;

Numbers 7:46 one male goat for a failure offering;

Numbers 7:47 and for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationships, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elyasaph, the son of Deuel.

Numbers 7:48 On the seventh day, Elishama, the son of Ammihud, the chief of the people of Ephraim:

Numbers 7:49 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 tribute offering;

Numbers 7:50 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;

Numbers 7:51 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for an ascending offering;

Numbers 7:52 one male goat for a failure offering;

Numbers 7:53 and for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationships, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama, the son of Ammihud.

Numbers 7:54 On the eighth day, Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, the leader of the people of Manasseh:

Numbers 7:55 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 tribute offering;

Numbers 7:56 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;

Numbers 7:57 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for an ascending offering;

Numbers 7:58 one male goat for a failure offering;

Numbers 7:59 and for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationships, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur.

Numbers 7:60 On the ninth day, Abidan, the son of Gideoni, the leader of the people of Benjamin:

Numbers 7:61 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 tribute offering;

Numbers 7:62 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;

Numbers 7:63 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for an ascending offering;

Numbers 7:64 one male goat for a failure offering;

Numbers 7:65 and for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationships, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan, the son of Gideoni.

Numbers 7:66 On the tenth day, Achiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the people of Dan:

Numbers 7:67 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 tribute offering;

Numbers 7:68 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;

Numbers 7:69 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for an ascending offering;

Numbers 7:70 one male goat for a failure offering;

Numbers 7:71 and for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationships, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Achiezer, the son of Ammishaddai.

Numbers 7:72 On the eleventh day, Pagiel, the son of Ochran, the leader of the people of Asher:

Numbers 7:73 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 tribute offering;

Numbers 7:74 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;

Numbers 7:75 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for an ascending offering;

Numbers 7:76 one male goat for a failure offering;

Numbers 7:77 and for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationships, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran.

Numbers 7:78 On the twelfth day, Achira, the son of Enan, the leader of the people of Naphtali:

Numbers 7:79 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 tribute offering;

Numbers 7:80 one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense;

Numbers 7:81 one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for an ascending offering;

Numbers 7:82 one male goat for a failure offering;

Numbers 7:83 and for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationships, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Achira, the son of Enan.

Numbers 7:84 This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day when it was anointed from the leaders of Israel: twelve silver plates, twelve silver basins, twelve golden dishes,

Numbers 7:85 each silver plate weighing 130 shekels and each basin 70, all the silver of the vessels 2,400 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary,

Numbers 7:86 the twelve golden dishes, full of incense, weighing 10 shekels apiece according to the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the dishes being 120 shekels;

Numbers 7:87 all the animals for the ascending offering twelve bulls, twelve rams, twelve male lambs a year old, with their tribute offering; and twelve male goats for a failure offering;

Numbers 7:88 and all the animals for the sacrifice of offering for healthy relationships twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.

Numbers 7:89 And when Moses went into the conference tent to speak with Yahveh, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the reminder, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.

Numbers 7 quotes:

“As the time for departure draws very close, a peculiar procession of wagons and oxen forms in the midst of Israel’s camp. Once they are in place, a twelve-day series of presentations takes place at the central tent of meeting. What is this? An advance party gathering to move out as forerunners for the people? A preparatory deposition of supplies in the central store? No. Before beginning their perilous journey through the wilderness, and as a finishing touch on the worship of the tabernacle that will travel in their midst, God’s people willingly offer up some of the prize pieces in their inventory: twelve silver plates, twelve golden dishes, six covered wagons, twelve loadcarrying oxen, and so on and on. What a crazy approach to survival!”

Boyce Richard Nelson. Leviticus and Numbers. 1st ed. Westminster John Knox Press 2008. p. 128.

“Numbers 7, which is the longest chapter in the Bible apart from Psalm 119, describes a unique event in the history of Israel. During a twelve-day festival, gifts were brought to be used in the work at the Tent of Meeting (4). Each day a different tribe’s gifts were presented by its designated leader; there was no variation whatever either in the gifts they offered or in the literary formula used to describe their offerings. Those who brought such gifts for the dedication of the altar (11) were the same men who had been responsible for the census (1:5-16; cf. 2:3-31). A list of all the gifts is provided (7:84-88), and a concluding verse focuses on the place where Moses met with God (89).”

Brown Raymond. The Message of Numbers : Journey to the Promised Land. InterVarsity Press 2002. p, 60.

“When a believer comes into the church service he may think he is just one of hundreds. But this is not the way God thinks. The worshiper is one of one to God, regardless of who he is. The Lord personally receives service from each individual. There is one obvious lesson here: the leaders are to offer, but each individual is to do his part. And in verses 84 to 88 we have a careful record of what was offered for the dedication of the altar. When we think about the altar in the tabernacle, it should remind us of Calvary’s cross. The altar is where the sacrifice was made by the priest; the cross is where the sacrifice was made by the Lord. Because of this, the center of all worship is the altar forever.”

Gutzke, Manford George. Plain Talk on Leviticus and Numbers. Zondervan Pub. House., 1981. p. 74.

“Each of the twelve tribes of Israel present God with certain things, and exactly the same list of presents is given twelve times over. But God s ways are not as our ways even in writing a book; and whereas a human writer might have condensed this account into a few lines, as one has observed, “there is no hasty promiscuous jumbling of names and offerings when God records the gifts of His children.” He prizes even the smallest gift or slightest service, and carefully records all.”

Saxe, Grace. Studies in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Grace Saxe, 1921. p. 28.

“Describing the organization of the camp and the tasks of the Levites in Numbers 1 – 6 before recording the gifts of the princes and the appointment of the Levites (Num. 7 – 8) enables the reader to appreciate the significance of these events.

Wenham, Gordon J.. Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Book 4) (p. 104). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

Numbers 7 links:

36 bulls
72 goats
72 lambs
72 rams
a supporting walk
a voice from above
considerate and practical
golden gifts
silver gifts

The NUMBERS shelf in Jeff’s library

Numbers 6

Numbers 6

Numbers 6:1 And Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said,

Numbers 6:2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special solemn pledge,[1] the solemn pledge[2]  of a Nazirite to separate himself to Yahveh,

Numbers 6:3 he will separate himself from wine and strong drink. He will drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and will not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried.

Numbers 6:4 All the days of his separation he will eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins.

Numbers 6:5 “All the days of his solemn pledge of separation, no razor will touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to Yahveh, he will be holy. He will let the locks of hair on his head grow long.

Numbers 6:6 “All the days that he separates himself to Yahveh he will not go near a dead throat.

Numbers 6:7 Not even for his father or his mother, for brother or sister, if they die, will he make himself unclean, because his separation to God is on his head.

Numbers 6:8 All the days of his separation he is holy to Yahveh.

Numbers 6:9 “And if any man dies very suddenly beside him and he defiles his consecrated head, then he will shave his head on the day of his purification; on the seventh day he will shave it.

Numbers 6:10 On the eighth day, he will bring two turtledoves or two pigeons to the priest to the entrance of the conference tent,

Numbers 6:11 and the priest will offer one for a failure offering and the other for an ascending offering, and provide reconciliation for him, because he made a failure by reason of the dead throat. And he will consecrate his head that same day

Numbers 6:12 and separate himself to Yahveh for the days of his separation and bring a male lamb a year old for a reparation offering. But the previous period will be void because his separation was defiled.

Numbers 6:13 “And this is the instruction for the Nazirite when the time of his separation has been completed: he will be brought to the entrance of the conference tent,

Numbers 6:14 and he will bring his gift to Yahveh, one perfect male lamb a year old for an ascending offering, and one ewe lamb a year old perfect as a failure offering, and one ram perfect as an offering for healthy relationships,

Numbers 6:15 and a basket of unleavened bread, loaves of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and their tribute offering and their drink offerings.

Numbers 6:16 And the priest will bring them before Yahveh and offer his failure offering and his ascending offering,

Numbers 6:17, and he will offer the ram as a sacrifice for healthy relationships with Yahveh, along with the basket of unleavened bread. The priest will also provide its tribute offering and drink offering.

Numbers 6:18 And the Nazirite will shave his consecrated head at the entrance of the conference tent and will take the hair from his consecrated head and put it on the fire that is under the sacrifice of the offering for healthy relationships.

Numbers 6:19 And the priest will take the shoulder of the ram when it is boiled, and one unleavened loaf out of the basket and one unleavened wafer, and will put them on the hands of the Nazirite, after he has shaved the hair of his consecration,

Numbers 6:20 and the priest will wave them for a presentation offering before Yahveh. They are a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast that is waved and the thigh that is contributed. And after that the Nazirite may drink wine.

Numbers 6:21 “This is the instruction of the Nazirite. But if he vows an offering to Yahveh above his Nazirite solemn pledge, as he can afford, in exact accordance with the vow that he takes, then he will do in addition to the instruction of the Nazirite.”

Numbers 6:22 Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said,

Numbers 6:23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, and this is what you should say. This is how you will bless the people of Israel: you will say to them,

Numbers 6:24 Yahveh bless you and keep you;

Numbers 6:25 Yahveh make his face to light upon you and be gracious to you;

Numbers 6:26 Yahveh lift his face to you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:27 “This is how they will they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

[1] נָדָר =make a solemn pledge. Numbers 6:2, 21; 21:2; 30:2, 3, 10.

[2]  נֶדֶר  = solemn pledge. Numbers 6:2, 5; 15:3, 8; 21:2; 29:39; 30:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14.

Numbers 6 quotes:

“While the ordinary Israelite forswore the eating of certain foods, the Nazirite added to this list drink (wine and all grape products, perhaps the choicest of the Promised Land’s fruits that these refugees anticipated; see the grape cluster in Num. 13:23). While the ordinary Israelite marked himself by refusing to round off the forelocks or trim the beard (Lev. 19:27), the Nazirite let all his hair grow (perhaps as a way of “remembering” the “wildness” of the wilderness, where such grooming was undoubtedly a luxury). While the ordinary Israelites were obligated to follow certain procedures following contact with a corpse (Num. 19), and the priests were forbidden to come near any corpse except those of closest kin (Lev. 21), the Nazirites forswore contact even with the corpse of father and mother (perhaps to make clear who their true parent was).”

Boyce Richard Nelson. Leviticus and Numbers. 1st ed. Westminster John Knox Press 2008. p. 124.

“Priests and Levites were conscripts. It is refreshing now to read a passage that makes room for the volunteer, any man or woman (2) who wishes to offer time and service to God for whatever purposes he or she may determine. Here is an episode in the life of people who wanted to express their love for God and gratitude to him in practical terms. The provisions governing the vow of a Nazirite (from nazar, to be separated or consecrated) are found only in this chapter, but this vow came to have special importance in the spiritual life of God’s people both within the biblical period and later. The Nazirite was separated to the Lord, from the world and for the work.”

Brown Raymond. The Message of Numbers : Journey to the Promised Land. InterVarsity Press 2002. p. 48.

“If you know someone who dresses in a special way and who adopts certain other procedures for religious reasons, are you tempted to scorn him? When I was a young believer in Christ I had a negative attitude toward anybody who put on a robe to preach in a pulpit or to sing in a choir. However, different people believe in different distinctive practices to enhance ee worship of God, and we should accept them on this basis.”

Gutzke, Manford George. Plain Talk on Leviticus and Numbers. Zondervan Pub. House., 1981. p. 72.

The vow was one of consecration or separation to God, and it involved a protracted time frame and strict regulation. Male or female could take this vow, but they must abstain from fermented beverages of any kind including vinegar, itself a by-product of the vine. The latter requirement was similar to the restrictions put on functioning priests (Lev. 10:8-11). This vow required scrupulous attention to detail and strict attention to all governing regulations. Hence it was one of the few acts of personal devotion brought under Levitical legislation.”

Martin, Glen, and Max E. Anders. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. Broadman & Holman, 2002 pp. 281-282.

“The earliest instance we know of a man called by this title is that of Samson, ‘a Nazirite consecrated to God from the day of his birth’ (Judg. 13 : 5). He is a Nazirite for life; a man devoted to God, rather than a pious man. His great renown is his long hair (worn because he is a Nazirite) which gives him his strength. Samuel, though he is not called a Nazirite, is given to God, and may not shave (i Sam. i : 11). Amos treats the existence of Nazirites, who do not drink wine, as due to a great act of God, parallel with the deliverance from Egypt and the institution of prophecy (Amos 2).”

Sturdy John et al. Numbers. Re-issued in this digitally printed version 2008 ed. Cambridge University Press 2010. p. 49.

“The Nazirites were the monks and nuns of ancient Israel, lay men or women who consecrated themselves to the total service of God, usually for a specific period of time, though more rarely for life. The laws on Nazirites were included here because they fit the general theme of this part of Numbers. The nation is being organized as the holy people of God. Israel was called to be ‘a kingdom of priests’ (Exod. 19:6), and the rules voluntarily assumed by the Nazirites resembled those governing the behaviour of priests, while their distinctive hairstyle reminded the laity that even they were called to be kings and priests to God (cf. Rev. 5:10). Thus as marriage symbolized the relationship between God and Israel (Num. 5), so the Nazirites epitomized the holy calling of the nation (Jer. 7:29). If pollution through dead bodies demanded the expulsion of ordinary laymen from the camp (5:2–3), it had an even more drastic effect on the Nazirites, the quintessence of sanctity (6:9–12).”

Wenham, Gordon J.. Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries Book 4) (p. 96). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

Numbers 6 links:

a blessed walk
blessings from Yahveh
consecrated time
Dead souls, dying souls
evidence of consecration


Maranatha Daily Devotional – Friday, April 26, 2019
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Friday, April 28, 2023
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Wednesday, April 28, 2021

The NUMBERS shelf in Jeff’s library