Numbers 7-8

Chapters_7-8 Consecration of the Tabernacle and Levites
3/8/09

I. In chapters 5-6 the purging of the whole camp of Israel, the next thing set before us is the consecration tabernacle and the Levites.
Numbers 7:1
1 Now it came to pass, when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, that he anointed it and consecrated it and all its furnishings, and the altar and all its utensils; so he anointed them and consecrated them.
A. The events of this chapter are looking back retrospectively to the day the Tabernacle was erected.
B. God has blessed His people in giving them the means for His presence to dwell among them, a meeting place, the "Tabernacle of Meeting" where no matter where they went He would be in their midst to guide and help them.
II. At the dedication of the tabernacle and the altar the leader of each tribe brought gifts an offering to the Lord.
A. The word for offering used here as gifts for the dedication is "qurban - corban" and it describes gifts to God that are of a general nature, it is a different word from that which is used to describe the offering such as the burnt offering or the grain offering.
1. And there were two separate sets of offerings brought.
B. The first gifts that were brought:
Numbers 7:2-3 (NKJV)
2 Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, who were the leaders of the tribes and over those who were numbered, made an offering.
3 And they brought their offering before the Lord, six covered carts and twelve oxen, a cart for every two of the leaders, and for each one an ox; and they presented them before the tabernacle.
1. The gift they brought was six covered carts one for each two tribes, and one ox for each tribe or twelve oxen total.
2. The gifts were accepted and distributed.
Numbers 7:4-9 (NKJV)
4 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the work of the tabernacle of meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.”
6 So Moses took the carts and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites.
7 Two carts and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service;
8 and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders.
a. The tribe of Kohath did not receive any carts or oxen because their responsibility was for the holy furniture of the tabernacle and God had prescribed that these were to be carries on their shoulders.
3. The work of the Lord is varied, some requires practical labor, some requires a more personal touch, but God provides what is necessary for the work.
C. The second set of gifts:
Numbers 7:10-11 (NKJV)
10 Now the leaders offered the dedication offering for the altar when it was anointed; so the leaders offered their offering before the altar.
11 For the Lord said to Moses, “They shall offer their offering, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.”
1. Each day for twelve days the leaders of one of the tribes brought a gift for the dedication of the altar.
2. The gift and the manner in which they were brought.
Numbers 7:12-17 (NKJV)
12 And the one who offered his offering on the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah.
13 His offering was one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering;
14 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;
15 one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering;
16 one kid of the goats as a sin offering;
17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
a. The gifts were acceptable to the Lord and were to be used for "doing the work of the tabernacle" and were to be given to the Levites according to the service they performed.
(1) Two carts and four oxen to the family of Gershon who had responsibility for transporting the fabrics of the tabernacle
(2) Four carts and eight oxen to the family of Merari because they had the heavier task of transporting the framework of the tabernacle.
b. The gift consisted of:
(1) One silver platter weighing 130 shekels (about 3 pounds)
(2) One silver bowl weighing 70 shekels (about 2 pounds)
(a) Both of them were full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering.
(3) One gold ladle weighing ten shekels (about 4 ounces)
(a) Filled with incense.
(4) For a burnt offering a young, bull, a ram, and a yearling male lamb.
(5) One male goat for a sin offering
(6) And for a peace or fellowship offering, 2 oxen, 5 rams, 5 male goats, and 5 yearling male lambs.
c. The first to bring his gift was Nashon the leader of the tribe of Judah.
d. And in the following order each subsequent day the leader of another tribe brought exactly the same gift (verses 18-83).
(1) Nashon - Judah
(2) Nethanel - Issachar
(3) Eliab - Zebulon
(4) Elizur - Reuben
(5) Shelumiel - Simeon
(6) Eliasaph - Gad
(7) Elishama - Ephraim
(8) Gamaliel - Manasseh
(9) Abidan - Benjamin
(10) Ahiezer - Dan
(11) Pagiel - Asher
(12) Ahira - Naphtali
e. Some observations of the gifts and the giving.
(1) First they were generous (God loves a hilarious giver)
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV)
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
(a) As Guzik points out
Clearly, this was generous giving. God must show Promised Land people how to be givers - one of the best measures of one who has moved from a slave mind-set to a Promised Land mind-set. The slave by nature is a taker, because he is often unsure of provision. Promised land people are generous, because they trust in a God who promised to meet all their needs.
(2) By offering the same gifts there was no attempt for one tribe over the other to draw attention to themselves through their giving.
(3) And we might ask why the same detail is given tribe by tribe, and it would seem to be to highlight the fact that God noted what was given.
Mark 12:41-44 (NKJV)
41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much.
42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans.
43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;
44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”


(4) Our giving supports the work of advancing the kingdom and the work that centers on fellowship.
(a) Both time and finances are involved.
(b) When we don't give or support it makes the work a lot harder than necessary, and we miss out on the blessing associated with giving.
Malachi 3:10 (NKJV)
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

verse-8 says when we don't support we are robbing God!

Malachi 3:8 (NKJV)
8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

i) But again it needs to come from a right heart, and when we grasp the wonder of God working through ministry it becomes a joy to participate by giving.
D. Then in verses 84-89 the gifts are summarized and totaled.
Numbers 7:84-89 (NKJV)
84 This was the dedication offering for the altar from the leaders of Israel, when it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold pans.
85 Each silver platter weighed one hundred and thirty shekels and each bowl seventy shekels. All the silver of the vessels weighed two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
86 The twelve gold pans full of incense weighed ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the pans weighed one hundred and twenty shekels.
87 All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve young bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs in their first year twelve, with their grain offering, and the kids of the goats as a sin offering twelve.
88 And all the oxen for the sacrifice of peace offerings were twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, and the lambs in their first year sixty. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.
89 Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him.

1. We see God speaking to Moses in the tabernacle from above the mercy seat, an indicator that God was pleased with the heart of the leaders (who are the representative heads of the people) and the generosity of their gifts.
a. It was a “get to” mentality not a “have to” mentality that motivated them at this time.
III. Now the arranging of the Lamps and the consecration of the Levites
A. Arrangement of the Lamps
Numbers 8:1-4 (NKJV)
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
2 “Speak to Aaron, and say to him, ‘When you arrange the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.’ ”
3 And Aaron did so; he arranged the lamps to face toward the front of the lampstand, as the Lord commanded Moses.
4 Now this workmanship of the lampstand was hammered gold; from its shaft to its flowers it was hammered work. According to the pattern which the Lord had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.

1. Chapter-8 opens with the instruction that the lampstand in the holy place was to be situated (by Aaron) in such a way that the light from the seven lamps on the lampstand were to provide light in front of the lampstand.
a. This was the only light in the tabernacle and so the work that was to be done in the tabernacle was to be done by the light displayed on the lampstand.
(1) The lampstand could not give the light, lamps had to be placed upon it, the lampstand could only make the light more visible.
(2) Revelation 1:20 draws a picture of the church as a lampstand, we the church are to make Jesus who is the light of the world more visible.
2. Verse-4 describes the lampstand, and that it was made according to the pattern of God's design. (The church should be the design of God not man)
3. I find the placement of this instruction interesting, here sandwiched between the generous giving of the leaders of each tribe, and the consecration the Levites.
a. The leaders were the representative heads of each tribe, so it can be said that all gave - and I believe we are all to give and support the work of the ministry.
b. Only Aaron and his son's the priests could minister inside the tabernacle, and so it is that God calls some to work that could be said to be internal or dealing expressly with the spiritual.
c. And the Levites were given to Aaron to support him in his ministry, so God raises up other to help in a more external way.
B. Cleansing and consecration of the Levites.
1. They were set apart by a special ceremony of cleansing
Numbers 8:5-7 (NKJV)
5 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
6 “Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them ceremonially.
7 Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purification on them, and let them shave all their body, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.
a. They were to be sprinkled with water of purification which was water mixed with the ashes of the red heifer
Numbers 19:9 (NKJV)
9 Then a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and store them outside the camp in a clean place; and they shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for the water of purification; it is for purifying from sin.

b. Also they were to be shaved all over and their clothes washed.
(1) Acts associated with the cleansing from sin.
2. And then the Levites were dedicated by sacrifice.
Numbers 8:8-15 (NKJV)
8 Then let them take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you shall take another young bull as a sin offering.
9 And you shall bring the Levites before the tabernacle of meeting, and you shall gather together the whole congregation of the children of Israel.
10 So you shall bring the Levites before the Lord, and the children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites;
11 and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord like a wave offering from the children of Israel, that they may perform the work of the Lord.
12 Then the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls, and you shall offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the Lord, to make atonement for the Levites.
13 “And you shall stand the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and then offer them like a wave offering to the Lord.
14 Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine.
15 After that the Levites shall go in to service the tabernacle of meeting. So you shall cleanse them and offer them like a wave offering.
a. Two young bulls, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering along with the Levites were brought before the Lord together with the whole congregation.
(1) The congregation laid there hands on the Levites as a sign of releasing them from the possession of the nation and assigning them to the Lord, and also as a sign of transferring the obligation of the first-born sons of the nation to serve the Lord to the Levites in their stead.
(2) Then Aaron presented the Levites to the Lord as a wave offering, they sealed the transfer by offering the bulls for the burnt and sin offerings.
b. And they were then to begin there service for the tabernacle.
3. More detail is given confirming the fact that the Levites were regarded as Israel's firstborn, given to the Lord.
Numbers 8:16-19 (NKJV)
16 For they are wholly given to Me from among the children of Israel; I have taken them for Myself instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the children of Israel.
17 For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are Mine, both man and beast; on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them to Myself.
18 I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the children of Israel.
19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the work for the children of Israel in the tabernacle of meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel, that there be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come near the sanctuary.”

a. God had taken the Levites for Himself.
C. Verses 20-22 affirm that they did as the Lord had commanded them to do.
Numbers 8:20-22 (NKJV)
20 Thus Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel did to the Levites; according to all that the Lord commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so the children of Israel did to them.
21 And the Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes; then Aaron presented them like a wave offering before the Lord, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.
22 After that the Levites went in to do their work in the tabernacle of meeting before Aaron and his sons; as the Lord commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.

1. Learning to do what God says is an important part of preparation for living in the Promised Land.
D. And the chapter closes with God setting a time limit for service of the Levites.
Numbers 8:23-26 (NKJV)
23 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
24 “This is what pertains to the Levites: From twenty-five years old and above one may enter to perform service in the work of the tabernacle of meeting;
25 and at the age of fifty years they must cease performing this work, and shall work no more.
26 They may minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of meeting, to attend to needs, but they themselves shall do no work. Thus you shall do to the Levites regarding their duties.”
1. According to Numbers chapter-4 the Levites began their service at age 30 and served until they were 50.
Numbers 4:3 (NKJV)
3 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting.
a. So from the age of 25 there were types of work they could participate in until they were 30, probably it was a time of training and apprenticeship, but they could not actually have responsibility for transporting the tabernacle and that which pertained to it until the age of 30.
(1) After the age of 50 they had to retire, they could however assiste the younger men in some aspects of tabernacle service.
b. These limitations insured that the Levites served the Lord during their prime years.
(1) God always deserves our best.
Also a reminder for us that we get to serve at the pleasure of God…
E. Wrap up:
1. People who are prepared for living in the Promised Land are not enslaved by their stuff, but generously give to support the work of God both of their time and resources, freely and willingly.
2. They are to be a cleansed people (putting off the old man).
3. They are to be a dedicated people, that is a people set apart for God (putting on the new man) living differently, in ways that please the Lord.
4. And they are to be a serving people actively involved in what God is calling them to .
5. Please Pleas understand what I am saying here, we do no, can not work to earn God's favor, but as we walk in the Spirit and not the flesh, these will be byproducts of such living.
a. And as God is preparing us for such a way of life the desires of our heart begin to change.