GOOD MORNING SIBLINGS!
Today we read Numbers 7
Click here to read today’s passages on BibleGateway.
Rabbit Trails
We only have one chapter, because it is a pretty long one.
Final preparations are being made for the Tabernacle and each tribe, one by one, only one each day, is bringing an offering to the temple.
These were very special offerings, though.
in Numbers 7:3-9 We read about the offerings of the wagons and oxen. Knowing what those were going to be used to transport just gave me chills of excitement.
If you read Numbers 7:10 on Biblehub.com as I’ve been showing you how to do, and then click “interlinear” you’ll see that the Hebrew word for these offerings is hanukkah. (Note that there are fifty thousand ways to spell that word and I think they come up with at least one additional way to spell it each time I try to choose one).
So what is a hanukkah? Hanukkah is an offering of dedication. In fact, the celebration of Hanukkah is usually referred to as the “Feast of Dedication” and it celebrates the dedication of YHWH’s temple after it had been desecrated. It’s a fascinating bit of history if you ever want to look it up.
You’ll also note that each tribe’s hanukkah was exactly the same thing as they each made their offerings to dedicate the tabernacle. Who was the first tribe to bring hanukkah to the Tabernacle? Judah. Guess who came from this tribe? Our Messiah.
These offerings went on for twelve consecutive days. Many believe that these offerings would have started on the first day of the week (Sunday) Judah was first, so that would put Ephraim making theirs (as seventh up) on Shabbat. I am of this opinion as well but you should look into it if you like. It’s just another point of interest.
Personally, I see a pattern in Judah being first and Ephraim last in terms of the seven day timeframe but that is a whole other rabbit trail that you’ll probably happen upon yourself eventually so put it in your back pocket.
Here are the verses that tell what tribe offered on what day. I’ll show a photo of how my Bible is currently marked up on this one below.
- Numbers 7:12 First day: Nahshon, son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.
- Numbers 7:18 Second day: Nethanel, son of Zuar, chief of the tribe of Issachar.
- Numbers 7:24 Third day: Eliab, son of Helon, chief of the tribe of Zebulon.
- Numbers 7:30 Fourth day: Eliur, son of Shedeur, chief of Reuben.
- Numbers 7:36 Fifth day: Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, chief of Simeon.
- Numbers 7:42 Sixth Day: Eliasaph, son of Deuel, chief of Gad.
- Numbers 7:48 Seventh Day: Elishama, son of Ammihud, chief of Ephraim.
- Numbers 7:54 Eighth Day: Gamaliel, sone of Pedahzur, chief of Manasseh
- Numbers 7:60 Ninth Day: Abidan, son of Gideoni, chief of Benjamin
- Numbers 7:66 Tenth Day: Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai, chief of Dan
- Numbers 7:72 Eleventh Day: Pagiel, son of Ochran, chief of Asher
- Numbers 7:78 Twelfth Day: Ahira, son of Enan, chief of Naphtali
Here is how these verses look in my Bible right now:
Judah and Ephraim will eventually become the two largest tribes of Israel and most tribal descendants end up being absorbed by one or the other of these tribes. These days, Ephraim is thought to be scattered in the “diaspora”, which simply means that they are in exile of sorts throughout the world, away from the homeland of Jerusalem. We will undoubtedly learn a lot more about Ephraim as we move on so I just wanted to put that tribe in your mind.
These offerings have me thinking. They are going over their tribe, putting together an offering fit for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and bringing the finest they have to offer.
•What do we bring as an offering each day?
•What are some offerings we have that would please Him? Our time, our praise, our actions, our careers, etc. We have so many things in our lives that the Father could use but often we hold back on those, never even thinking to offer them up to His service.
And by the way, did you know that studying YHWH’s Word is a form of worship?
Let us worship Him as we seek Him, with our whole hearts!
Test everything, hold tight to what is good.~ 1 Thess 5:21
We are saved by Grace alone: Obedience is not the root of our salvation, it is the fruit!
May YHWH bless the reading of His Word!