Study Desk

Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle

When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle,^(a) he anointed^(b) and consecrated it and all its furnishings.^(c) He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils.^(d)

Then the leaders of Israel,^(e) the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted,^(f) made offerings.

They brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered carts^(g) and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.

The Lord said to Moses,

"Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man's work requires."

So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites.

He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites,^(h) as their work required,

and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites,⁽ⁱ⁾ as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.

But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites,^(j) because they were to carry on their shoulders^(k) the holy things, for which they were responsible.

When the altar was anointed,^(l) the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication^(m) and presented them before the altar.

For the Lord had said to Moses, "Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar."

The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon⁽ⁿ⁾ son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.

His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels^[a] and one silver sprinkling bowl^(o) weighing seventy shekels,^[b](p) both according to the sanctuary shekel,^(q) each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;^(r)

one gold dish^(s) weighing ten shekels,^[c](t) filled with incense;^(u)

one young bull,^(v) one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;^(w)

one male goat for a sin offering^[d];^(x)

and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering.^(y) This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.^(z)

On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar,^(aa) the leader of Issachar, brought his offering.

The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;

one gold dish^(ab) weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;

one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;

one male goat for a sin offering;

and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

On the third day, Eliab son of Helon,^(ac) the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering.

His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;

one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;

one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;

one male goat for a sin offering;

and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur,^(ad) the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering.

His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;

one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;

one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;

one male goat for a sin offering;

and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,^(ae) the leader of the people of Simeon, brought his offering.

His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;

one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;

one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;

one male goat for a sin offering;

and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel,^(af) the leader of the people of Gad, brought his offering.

His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;

one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;

one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;

one male goat for a sin offering;

and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud,^(ag) the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering.

His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;

one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;

one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;

one male goat for a sin offering;

and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.^(ah)

On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,^(ai) the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering.

His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;

one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;

one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;

one male goat for a sin offering;

and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni,^(aj) the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering.

His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;

one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;

one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;

one male goat for a sin offering;

and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai,^(ak) the leader of the people of Dan, brought his offering.

His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;

one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;

one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;

one male goat for a sin offering;

and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Okran,^(al) the leader of the people of Asher, brought his offering.

His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;

one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;

one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;

one male goat for a sin offering;

and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Okran.

On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan,^(am) the leader of the people of Naphtali, brought his offering.

His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;

one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;

one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;

one male goat for a sin offering;

and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed:^(an) twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls^(ao) and twelve gold dishes.^(ap)

Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels,^[e] according to the sanctuary shekel.^(aq)

The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel.^(ar) Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels.^[f]

The total number of animals for the burnt offering^(as) came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering.^(at) Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering.^(au)

The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering^(av) came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs^(aw) a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.^(ax)

When Moses entered the tent of meeting^(ay) to speak with the Lord ,^(az) he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover^(ba) on the ark of the covenant law.^(bb) In this way the Lord spoke to him.

Setting Up the Lamps

The Lord said to Moses,

"Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand.^(a)'"

Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the Lord commanded Moses.

This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold^(b)—from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern^(c) the Lord had shown Moses.

The Lord said to Moses:

"Take the Levites from among all the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean.^(d)

To purify them, do this: Sprinkle the water of cleansing^(e) on them; then have them shave their whole bodies^(f) and wash their clothes.^(g) And so they will purify themselves.^(h)

Have them take a young bull with its grain offering of the finest flour mixed with olive oil;⁽ⁱ⁾ then you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering.^[a](j)

Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting^(k) and assemble the whole Israelite community.^(l)

You are to bring the Levites before the Lord , and the Israelites are to lay their hands on them.^(m)

Aaron is to present the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering⁽ⁿ⁾ from the Israelites, so that they may be ready to do the work of the Lord .

"Then the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls,^(o) using one for a sin offering^(p) to the Lord and the other for a burnt offering,^(q) to make atonement^(r) for the Levites.

Have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons and then present them as a wave offering^(s) to the Lord .

In this way you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites, and the Levites will be mine.^(t)

"After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering,^(u) they are to come to do their work at the tent of meeting.^(v)

They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn,^(w) the first male offspring^(x) from every Israelite woman.

Every firstborn male in Israel, whether human or animal,^(y) is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for myself.^(z)

And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel.^(aa)

From among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons^(ab) to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites^(ac) and to make atonement for them^(ad) so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary."

Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes.^(ae) Then Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the Lord and made atonement^(af) for them to purify them.^(ag)

After that, the Levites came to do their work^(ah) at the tent of meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons. They did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Lord said to Moses,

"This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more^(ai) shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting,^(aj)

but at the age of fifty,^(ak) they must retire from their regular service and work no longer.

They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work.^(al) This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites."