Numbers 7:55
His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
Original Language Analysis
קָרְבָּנ֞וֹ
His offering
H7133
קָרְבָּנ֞וֹ
His offering
Strong's:
H7133
Word #:
1 of 20
something brought near the altar, i.e., a sacrificial present
אֶחָד֙
shekels one
H259
אֶחָד֙
shekels one
Strong's:
H259
Word #:
4 of 20
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
וּמֵאָה֮
of an hundred
H3967
וּמֵאָה֮
of an hundred
Strong's:
H3967
Word #:
6 of 20
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
מִשְׁקָלָהּ֒
of the weight
H4948
מִשְׁקָלָהּ֒
of the weight
Strong's:
H4948
Word #:
7 of 20
weight (numerically estimated); hence, weighing (the act)
אֶחָד֙
shekels one
H259
אֶחָד֙
shekels one
Strong's:
H259
Word #:
9 of 20
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל
after the shekel
H8255
בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל
after the shekel
Strong's:
H8255
Word #:
12 of 20
probably a weight; used as a commercial standard
בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל
after the shekel
H8255
בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל
after the shekel
Strong's:
H8255
Word #:
13 of 20
probably a weight; used as a commercial standard
הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ
of the sanctuary
H6944
הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ
of the sanctuary
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
14 of 20
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
מְלֵאִ֗ים
of them full
H4392
מְלֵאִ֗ים
of them full
Strong's:
H4392
Word #:
16 of 20
full (literally or figuratively) or filling (literally); also (concretely) fulness; adverbially, fully
בְּלוּלָ֥ה
mingled
H1101
בְּלוּלָ֥ה
mingled
Strong's:
H1101
Word #:
18 of 20
to overflow (specifically with oil.); by implication, to mix; to fodder
Historical Context
The sanctuary shekel originated at Sinai (Exodus 30:13) as the standard for the half-shekel temple tax. By maintaining this standard throughout Israel's history, God prevented economic inflation from corrupting worship. The 'fine flour mingled with oil' recipe appears throughout Leviticus (2:1-16), creating consistency in grain offerings for four decades of wilderness worship.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the identical offering from all tribes challenge worldly systems that privilege wealth, status, or influence in religious contexts?
- What does the laborious preparation of 'fine flour' (repeated grinding and sifting) teach about the value of careful, consecrated work in worship?
- In what ways does oil symbolizing the Spirit's anointing challenge attempts at human achievement apart from divine empowerment?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary—Gamaliel's offering mirrors Elishama's (7:49) and every other tribe's—identical weights, vessels, and contents. The repetition isn't tedious but theologically intentional: God values each tribe equally. The shekel of the sanctuary maintains standards of honesty, preventing the wealthy from gaining advantage through manipulated weights (Proverbs 11:1).
Both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering—The grain offering (minchah) accompanied burnt and peace offerings, never appearing alone. The fine flour (solet) required laborious grinding and sifting, representing consecrated human labor. Oil (shemen) symbolized the Holy Spirit's anointing (1 Samuel 16:13). Together they picture Spirit-empowered human effort offered to God.