🔢WEB · Numbers 7:71
What does Numbers 7:71 mean?
"and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai."
— Numbers 7:71 (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, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, prince of the children of Asher
gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred 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 7:71 records the closing detail of a specific tribal leader's gift to the newly dedicated tabernacle. In plain language, the verse says that Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai, brought two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs, each a year old, as a peace offering — an offering meant to express fellowship and thanksgiving to God rather than atonement for sin. This is simply the tally of animals given by one leader on his appointed day of presenting gifts.
The broader context is Numbers chapter 7, which describes the dedication of the altar after Moses finished setting up the tabernacle. The twelve tribal leaders (called "princes" or "chiefs") each brought identical offerings on twelve consecutive days, one leader per day, to mark this momentous occasion of Israel's worship center being consecrated. Ahiezer represented the tribe of Dan, and his offering came on the seventh day of this dedication ceremony. Moses wrote this book, addressing the Israelite community as they organized themselves in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt, preparing for their journey toward the Promised Land under God's covenant instructions given at Sinai.
Theologically, the striking feature of Numbers 7 is not variety but repetition — every leader brings the exact same offering, tribe after tribe, verse
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