Numbers Chapter 7 · Verse 67
His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was 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
whereof was an hundred
H3967
וּמֵאָה֮
whereof was an hundred
Strong's:
H3967
Word #:
6 of 20
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
מִשְׁקָלָהּ֒
the weight
H4948
מִשְׁקָלָהּ֒
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 tabernacle dedication offerings occurred shortly after the golden calf apostasy (Exodus 32) and the second giving of the law. The painstaking detail in Numbers 7—verse after verse of seemingly repetitive offerings—stands in stark contrast to the chaotic self-worship of the golden calf episode. Ordered, prescribed worship restores what lawless worship destroys: God's presence, communal holiness, and spiritual safety.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the identical offering requirement (across wealthy and poor tribes) challenge modern consumer approaches to worship that cater to personal preferences?
- What is the relationship between creative expression in worship and submission to biblically prescribed patterns?
- How does Dan's orthodox offering here (contrasted with later idolatry at Dan) show that right external forms without heart faithfulness ultimately fail?
Analysis & Commentary
His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary—Dan's offering precisely matched every previous tribe's, demonstrating God's requirement for equality in worship. The silver (kesef, כֶּסֶף) symbolizes redemption (Exodus 30:11-16), where each Israelite paid a half-shekel ransom for his soul. The 200-shekel total (130 + 70) represented significant wealth, yet remained identical across rich and poor tribes.
Both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering—Repetition throughout Numbers 7 emphasizes that God prescribes worship standards, not worshipers. Modern 'authenticity' that dismisses divine instruction for personal expression mirrors Cain's rejected offering (Genesis 4:3-5) and Nadab and Abihu's strange fire (Leviticus 10:1-2). True worship submits creativity to revelation, personal expression to biblical boundaries.