Sunday, July 10, 2022

Seder 108: Numbers 7---Tribal Gifts for Dedication of the Altar

 The first two months of the second year of the Exodus were a busy time for the Israelites.  The completion of the tabernacle and the ordination of the priests were among the major events of that period.  To dedicate the altar of burnt offering for the tabernacle, each tribe gave an identical gift, as recorded in Numbers 7.

The presentation of the gifts was carried out over a period of twelve days, with each tribe featured on a different day.  These were generous voluntary gifts that symbolized each tribe's desire to contribute.  The twelve-day celebration promoted the unity of the tribes and rejoiced that God would be accompanying them on the journey.  

The tribes took turns according to the order for marching laid out in Numbers 2.  Judah, the leading tribe, went on day 1.  Ephraim, another leading tribe, went on day 7.  The tribes were led by the representatives that had been chosen to carry out the census described in Numbers 1.

The gifts are described in twelve almost identical paragraphs, with the main differences being the name of the tribe and its representative.  In all but one case, the representatives are called princes.  The exception is the Judah paragraph, which does not call Nahshon a prince.  Tradition says this is because the real prince of the tribe of Judah is the future messianic king prophesied in Gen 49.

With the construction of the tabernacle, Moses would no longer be communing with God at a "tent of meeting" outside the camp (Exod 33;7-11).  From now on the tabernacle would double as the tent of meeting (Num 7:89).

In a sermon on this seder at Church of the Messiah on July 9, 2022, Rob Wilson highlighted the importance of God speaking with his people for the benefit of the whole community, as described in Num 7:89.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Good Friday 2024: Mary the Wife of Clopas

 In the 1980s sitcom Newhart , three Vermont woodsmen were among the cast of eccentric characters.  Larry, their spokesman, introduced the o...