Dedicating the Holy Tent

7 Moses finished setting up the Holy Tent.* On that day, he dedicated it to the Lord. Moses anointed* the Tent and all the things in it. Moses also anointed the altar* and all the things used with it. This showed that these things should be used only for worshiping the Lord. ²Then the leaders of Israel gave offerings to the Lord. These men were the heads of their families and leaders of their family groups. These were the same men who were in charge of counting the people. ³These leaders brought gifts to the Lord. They brought six covered wagons and twelve cows for pulling the wagons. (One cow was given by each leader. Each leader joined with another leader to give one wagon.) The leaders gave these things to the Lord at the Holy Tent. ⁴The Lord said to Moses, ⁵“Accept these gifts from the leaders. These gifts can be used in the work of the Meeting Tent.* Give these things to the Levite men. This will help them do their work.” ⁶So Moses accepted the wagons and the cows. He gave these things to the Levite men. ⁷He gave two carts and four cows to the men in Gershon’s group. They needed the wagons and the cows for their work. ⁸Then Moses gave four wagons and eight cows to the men in Merari’s group. They needed the wagons and cows for their work. Ithamar son of Aaron the priest was responsible for the work of all these men. ⁹Moses did not give any cows or wagons to the men in Kohath’s group. Why? Because their job was to carry the holy things on their shoulders. ¹⁰Moses anointed* the altar.* That same day, the leaders brought their offerings for dedicating the altar. They gave their offerings to the Lord at the altar. ¹¹The Lord told Moses, “Each day one leader must bring his gift for dedicating the altar.” ^12–83* {Each of the twelve leaders brought his gifts. These are the gifts:} Each leader brought one silver plate that weighed 3 1/4 pounds.* Each leader brought one silver bowl that weighed 1 3/4 pounds.* Both of these gifts were weighed by the official measure.* The bowl and the plate were each filled with fine flour mixed with oil. This was to be used as a grain offering. Each leader also brought a large gold spoon that weighed about 4 ounces.* The spoon was filled with incense.* Each leader also brought 1 young bull, 1 ram, and 1 male lamb a year old. These animals were for a burnt offering. Each leader also brought 1 male goat to be used as a sin offering. Each leader brought 2 cows, 5 rams, 5 male goats, and 5 male lambs a year old. All of these things were sacrificed for a fellowship offering. On the first day, the leader of Judah’s family group, Nahshon son of Amminadab brought his gifts. On the second day, the leader of Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar brought his gifts. On the third day, the leader of the people of Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon brought his gifts. On the fourth day, the leader of the people of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur brought his gifts. On the fifth day, the leader of the people of Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai brought his gifts. On the sixth day, the leader of the people of Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel* brought his gifts. On the seventh day, the leader of the people of Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud brought his gifts. On the eighth day, the leader of the people of Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur brought his gifts. On the ninth day, the leader of the people of Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni brought his gifts. On the tenth day, the leader of the people of Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai brought his gifts. On the eleventh day, the leader of the people of Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran brought his gifts. On the twelfth day, the leader of the people of Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan brought his gifts. ⁸⁴So all those things were the gifts from the leaders of the people of Israel. They brought those things during the time that Moses dedicated the altar* by anointing* it. They brought 12 silver plates, 12 silver bowls, and 12 gold spoons. ⁸⁵Each silver plate weighed about 3 1/4 pounds.* And each bowl weighed about 1 3/4 pounds.* The silver plates and the silver bowls together all weighed about 60 pounds,* using the official measure* ⁸⁶The 12 gold spoons filled with incense* weighed 4 ounces* each, using the official measure. The 12 gold spoons all together weighed about 3 pounds.* ⁸⁷The total number of animals for the burnt offering was 12 bulls, 12 rams, and 12 one-year- old male lambs. There were also the grain offerings that must be given with those offerings. And there were 12 male goats that were used for a sin offering to the Lord. ⁸⁸The leaders also gave animals to be killed and used as a fellowship offering. The total number of these animals was 24 bulls, 60 rams, 60 male goats, and 60 one-year-old male lambs. In this way, they dedicated the altar after Moses anointed* it. ⁸⁹Moses went into the Meeting Tent* to speak to the Lord. At that time, he heard the Lord’s voice speaking to him. The voice was coming from the area between the two Cherub angels on the special cover* on top of the Box of the Agreement.* {This was the way} God spoke to Moses.

Holy Tent Or, “tabernacle,” the tent where God came to live among his people. anoint(ed) To pour olive oil on people or things to show they are chosen for a special work or purpose. altar A table or raised area used for offering sacrifices. Meeting Tent The Holy Tent (tabernacle) where the people of Israel went to meet with God. Verses 12-83 In the Hebrew text each leader’s gift is listed separately. But the text is the same for each gift, so it has been merged for easier reading. 3 1/4 pounds Or, “130 shekels.” 1 3/4 pounds Or, “70 shekels.” official measure Literally, “holy shekel,” the standard of measure used in the tabernacle and the temple. 4 ounces Or, “10 shekels.” incense Special dried tree sap. Burned to make a sweet-smelling smoke, it was offered as a gift to God. Deuel Or, “Reuel.” altar A table or raised area used for offering sacrifices. 3 1/4 pounds Or, “130 shekels.” 1 3/4 pounds Or, “70 shekels.” 60 pounds Or, “2,400 shekels.” incense Special dried tree sap. Burned to make a sweet-smelling smoke, it was offered as a gift to God. 3 pounds Or, “120 shekels.” anoint To pour olive oil on people or things to show they are chosen for a special work or purpose. cover Also called “mercy seat.” The Hebrew word can mean “lid,” “cover,” or “place where sins are forgiven.” Box of the Agreement Holy Box or “ark of the Covenant,” the box containing the flat stones with the Ten Commandments written on them and other things that proved God was with the people of Israel during their time in the Sinai Desert.