SERIES E --- YHVH’S LAWS --- LESSON 07

THE LEADERS’ GIFTS

GIFTS FROM THE LEADERS OF ISRAEL

From Numbers 7:1-47

On the same day that Moses set up the tabernacle, anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings and anointed and consecrated the altar and its utensils, the leaders of Israel, those who were leaders of the tribes and were in charge of the census, brought gifts to Adonai. There were six covered wagons, each pulled by two oxen. Each leader gave one ox and every two leaders gave a wagon. The leaders presented the gifts to Adonai at the entrance to the tabernacle. Accept the gifts and use the wagons in the service of the tabernacle, Adonai told Moses. Give them to the Levites to use as they think best. Moses gave the wagons and oxen to the Levites. He presented two wagons with four oxen to the men of Gershon and four wagons with eight oxen to the men of Merari, under the direction of the priest Ithamar, Aaron’s son. The men of Kohath did not get wagons because the sacred items they were in charge of had to be carried on their shoulders. That same day, when the altar was anointed, the leaders brought dedication gifts and put them before the altar. Let each leader offer his gifts on a different day, Adonai told Moses. And let these be for the dedication of the altar.

On the first day Nahshon the son of Amminadab, leader of the tribe of Judah, brought his gifts. They were:
A silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels (about two pounds), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A silver bowl weighing seventy shekels (about a pound), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A golden dish weighing ten shekels (about three ounces), full of incense. A young bull for a burnt offering. A ram for a burnt offering. A male lamb a year old for a burnt offering. A male goat for a sin offering. Two oxen for peace offerings. Five rams for peace offerings. Five male goats for peace offerings. Five male lambs a year old for peace offerings.

On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, leader of the tribe of Issachar, brought his gifts. They were:
A silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels (about two pounds), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A silver bowl weighing seventy shekels (about a pound), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A golden dish weighing ten shekels (about three ounces), full of incense. A young bull for a burnt offering. A ram for a burnt offering. A male lamb a year old for a burnt offering. A male goat for a sin offering. Two oxen for peace offerings. Five rams for peace offerings. Five male goats for peace offerings. Five male lambs a year old for peace offerings.

On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, leader of the tribe of Zebulun, brought his gifts. They were:
A silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels (about two pounds), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A silver bowl weighing seventy shekels (about a pound), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A golden dish weighing ten shekels (about three ounces), full of incense. A young bull for a burnt offering. A ram for a burnt offering. A male lamb a year old for a burnt offering. A male goat for a sin offering. Two oxen for peace offerings. Five rams for peace offerings. Five male goats for peace offerings. Five male lambs a year old for peace offerings.

On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, leader of the tribe of Reuben, brought his gifts. They were:
A silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels (about two pounds), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A silver bowl weighing seventy shekels (about a pound), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A golden dish weighing ten shekels (about three ounces), full of incense. A young bull for a burnt offering. A ram for a burnt offering. A male lamb a year old for a burnt offering. A male goat for a sin offering. Two oxen for peace offerings. Five rams for peace offerings. Five male goats for peace offerings. Five male lambs a year old for peace offerings.

On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, leader of the tribe of Simeon, brought his gifts. They were:
A silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels (about two pounds), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A silver bowl weighing seventy shekels (about a pound), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A golden dish weighing ten shekels (about three ounces), full of incense. A young bull for a burnt offering. A ram for a burnt offering. A male lamb a year old for a burnt offering. A male goat for a sin offering. Two oxen for peace offerings. Five rams for peace offerings. Five male goats for peace offerings. Five male lambs a year old for peace offerings.

On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, leader of the tribe of Gad, brought his gifts. They were:
A silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels (about two pounds), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A silver bowl weighing seventy shekels (about a pound), filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering. A golden dish weighing ten shekels (about three ounces), full of incense. A young bull for a burnt offering. A ram for a burnt offering. A male lamb a year old for a burnt offering. A male goat for a sin offering. Two oxen for peace offerings. Five rams for peace offerings. Five male goats for peace offerings. Five male lambs a year old for peace offerings.

COMMENTARY

LIFE THEY LEFT BEHIND: LUXURY TABLEWARE IN ANCIENT EGYPT

Paper, plastic, stoneware and on special occasions, porcelain and china; that’s what people in the modern world use for dishes and tableware. But the wealthy Egyptians served their daily fare in dishes that look almost like works of art to modern eyes. Goblets, plates and pitchers were often made of silver. Dishes and vessels were sometimes beautifully wrought from gold. Mined stone was carved by hand into fine vessels for food and also for the storage of oils, ointments and perfume. Those made from a translucent white stone called alabaster were especially beautiful. The Egyptians loved turquoise and lapis lazuli, a dark velvet-blue stone they imported from Afghanistan. But even the Egyptians thought those stones were too precious to make into vessels, so craftsmen imitated them instead. They used coloured glass and earthenware covered with coloured glazes; called faience; and made vessels that looked very much like turquoise and lapis lazuli. Messages and outdoor scenes were often engraved on the outside of tableware. Scenes were painted on the insides as well. Sometimes a vessel was shaped like a hieroglyph that meant something in particular. A vase with a spout on one side stood for good wishes, singing and praise, for instance. A slender flared vase was a symbol of the Egyptian goddess Bast. Other vessels could be shaped like flowers, pomegranates or other fruits. With all of the beautiful dishes, the ancient Egyptians had the same problem as modern folks; someone had to wash them!