🔢WEB · Numbers 7:23
What does Numbers 7:23 mean?
"and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar."
— Numbers 7:23 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
one male goat for a sin offering;
and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.
On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun
gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
Explanation
Numbers 7:23 records part of a detailed list describing the offerings brought by Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of the tribe of Issachar, on the day the tabernacle was dedicated. In plain terms, this verse tells us that as part of his peace offering, Nethanel presented two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs, each a year old. This is the concluding line of a fuller list found in verses 18-23, which also describes grain offerings, incense, and other sacrifices he brought that day.
The context is essential to understanding why this verse exists at all. After Moses finished setting up the tabernacle and anointing it (Numbers 7:1), the leaders of Israel's twelve tribes each brought identical offerings on twelve consecutive days to dedicate the altar. Nethanel's turn came on the second day. Numbers is traditionally attributed to Moses, and this section functions as a formal, almost liturgical record of Israel's worship at a pivotal moment—the establishment of organized sacrificial worship at the newly consecrated tabernacle in the wilderness. The book itself is addressed to the Israelites, chronicling their journey from Sinai toward the Promised Land, and this chapter specifically documents an act of communal devotion and order following the chaos of the golden calf incident and the subsequent restoration of covenant relationship.
Theologically, the peace offering
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