Numbers 7:37
His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels,

Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of Ephraim, brought the same appointed offering as the other tribal leaders during the altar’s dedication. The substantial silver vessel displayed willing obedience and honored the holiness of the Lord’s dwelling among Israel.

1Ch 29:2 Now with all my ability I have made provision…
Ezr 8:25-27 and I weighed out to them the contribution of silver…
Num 4:7 Over the table of the Presence they are to spread……

and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels,

The bowl joined the platter as a consecrated vessel for presenting the grain offering. Each leader gave an equal gift, showing that every tribe stood on equal ground before God and shared responsibility for Israel’s worship.

Ezr 1:10 30 gold bowls, 410 matching silver bowls…
1Ch 28:17 the weight of the pure gold for the forks, sprinkling bowls;…
2Ch 4:8 Additionally, he made ten tables and placed them…

both according to the sanctuary shekel

The sanctuary shekel provided God’s established measure for offerings, preventing partiality or deceit. Worship was not governed by personal preference but by the standard God had given through Moses.

Exo 30:13 Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay…
Lev 27:25 Every valuation will be according to the sanctuary shekel,…
Ezk 45:12 The shekel will consist of twenty gerahs.…

and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;

Fine flour represented the best produce of the land God had supplied, while oil accompanied the offering as a sign of richness and consecration. The grain offering expressed thanksgiving and devoted service, acknowledging that Israel’s daily sustenance came from the Lord.

Lev 2:1-2 “When anyone brings a grain offering to the LORD,…
Num 15:4-5 then the one presenting his offering to the LORD…
Lev 6:14-15 Now this is the law of the grain offering:…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who received the instructions for the offerings from God.

2. Israelites
The people of God who were commanded to bring offerings as part of their worship and dedication to the Lord.

3. Tabernacle
The portable dwelling place for the divine presence among the Israelites, where these offerings were made.

4. Tribe of Reuben
The tribe that presented these offerings on the day described in this passage.

5. Burnt Offering
A type of sacrifice in which the entire animal was consumed by fire, symbolizing complete dedication to God.
Teaching Points
Symbolism of Sacrifice
The burnt offering represents total surrender and dedication to God. As believers, we are called to offer our lives wholly to Him.

Obedience in Worship
The Israelites' adherence to God's instructions for offerings highlights the importance of obedience in our worship practices today.

Christ as the Ultimate Sacrifice
The Old Testament sacrifices point forward to Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice on the cross was once for all, fulfilling the need for continual offerings.

Community Worship
The collective offerings of the tribes underscore the importance of communal worship and unity in the body of Christ.

Spiritual Growth through Sacrifice
Just as the Israelites grew in their relationship with God through obedience and sacrifice, we too grow spiritually when we surrender our desires and follow God's will.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of a burnt offering in Numbers 7:37 help us understand the nature of true worship and dedication to God?

2. In what ways can we apply the principle of complete surrender, as symbolized by the burnt offering, in our daily lives?

3. How does the sacrificial system in the Old Testament point us to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and what does this mean for our faith today?

4. What role does obedience play in our worship, and how can we ensure that our worship aligns with God's instructions?

5. How can we foster a sense of community and unity in our worship practices, similar to the collective offerings of the Israelite tribes?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 1
Provides detailed instructions on how burnt offerings were to be conducted, emphasizing the importance of sacrifice and atonement.

Hebrews 10
Discusses the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which fulfills and surpasses the Old Testament sacrificial system.

Romans 12:1
Encourages believers to offer themselves as living sacrifices, drawing a parallel to the complete dedication symbolized by the burnt offering.
The Free-Will Offering of the PrincesE.S. Prout Numbers 7:1-88
The Princes and Their Princely OfferingW. Binnie Numbers 7:1-89
Communion with GodNumbers 7:10-89
Communion with GodNumbers 7:10-89
Indications of the IncarnationHenry, MatthewNumbers 7:10-89
Rich Givers and Rich GiftsHenry, MatthewNumbers 7:10-89
Such as have Greatest Blessings and GiftsW. Attersoll.Numbers 7:10-89
The Condescension of God, and the Privileges of ManW. Jones.Numbers 7:10-89
The Ear of the HeartNumbers 7:10-89
The Princes' Offerings for the Dedication of the AltarW. Jones.Numbers 7:10-89
The Speech of the Divine SpiritProfessor Gess.Numbers 7:10-89
The Support of Religious InstitutionsD. Lloyd.Numbers 7:10-89
People
Aaron, Abidan, Ahiezer, Ahira, Ammihud, Amminadab, Ammishaddai, Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Deuel, Eliab, Eliasaph, Elishama, Elizur, Enan, Gad, Gamaliel, Gershon, Gershonites, Gideoni, Helon, Issachar, Ithamar, Kohath, Levites, Manasseh, Merari, Merarites, Moses, Nahshon, Naphtali, Nethaneel, Ocran, Pagiel, Pedahzur, Reuben, Reuel, Shedeur, Shelumiel, Simeon, Zebulun, Zuar, Zurishaddai
Places
Sinai
Topics
Basin, Best, Bowl, Cereal, Charger, Dish, Filled, Fine, Flour, Full, Grain, Holy, Hundred, Meal, Meal-offering, Meat, Meat-offering, Mingled, Mixed, Oblation, Offering, Oil, Plate, Platter, Present, Sanctuary, Scale, Seventy, Shekel, Shekels, Silver, Sprinkling, Thereof, Thirty, Weighing, Weight, Whereof
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Numbers 7:29

     7364   fellowship offering

Numbers 7:28-29

     4651   goat

Library
Separation and Service.
Numbers vi, vii. INTRODUCTORY. For many years these chapters had no special interest to me; but I have never ceased to be thankful that I was early led to read the Word of GOD in regular course: it was through this habit that these chapters first became specially precious to me. I was travelling on a missionary tour in the province of CHEH-KIANG, and had to pass the night in a very wicked town. All the inns were dreadful places; and the people seemed to have their consciences seared, and their hearts
James Hudson Taylor—Separation and Service

Our Lord's Prayer for his People's Sanctification
In this wonderful prayer, our Lord, as our great High Priest, appears to enter upon that perpetual office of intercession which he is now exercising at the right hand of the Father. Our Lord ever seemed, in the eagerness of his love, to be anticipating his work. Before he was set apart for his life-work, by the descent of the Holy Ghost upon him, he must needs be about his Father's business; before he finally suffered at the hands of cruel men, he had a baptism to be baptized with, and he was straitened
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 32: 1886

Prophecy.
PROPHECY. Isaiah iii. 13; liii. "Behold, my servant shall deal prudently; he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: so shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider. Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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