Chapter 7

Chapter 7 is a tricky one to write a great deal about, because once again we have a list. This time it’s the day on which the Tabernacle is to be consecrated, and we’re seeing an archived list of the things that were given by each of the tribes.

Firstly (vs 1-9) we see that 6 carts are given, by pairs of tribes. The Gershonites get four of these (for lugging a dirty great tent around) and the Merarites receive two (for moving tent poles and cords). And the Kohathites receive none, because all their stuff is to be carried on the shoulder. Scratch what I said before about it sucking more to be one of those two clans, right now I’m thinking that the Kohathites would have been a little annoyed by this. Anyway . . .

Next we have a gift given by each tribe, represented by the leader mentioned in chapter 1.

Now, this is the list of which I am speaking. Each tribe has its gift detailed in full, even though EVERY TRIBE IS GIVING EXACTLY THE SAME OFFERING.

This offering, by the way, is:

• A silver plate weighing just under 2 kilos (according to the Sanctuary shekel, but translated into metrics for your convenience)
• A silver bowl weighing just under 1 kilo. Both of these filled with fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering.
• A gold vessel (just over 100g) full of incense
• A young bull, a ram and a yearling lamb for a whole burnt offering
• A male goat for a sin offering
• Two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five yearling rams for the peace offering.

I suspect there is something deeply significant from Hebrew culture about each of these items. I’d guess that there is also something of numerological consequence about the number of animals involved. But I don’t know either of those; If I were writing this list, I’d have said “And each tribe gave THIS:”, and if I was really wanting to be thorough I might also throw in the summary you can read from verses 85 – 88.

However, it is well worth contrasting what the Jews had to do to get right with God with what WE have to do. Yesterday I touched on the difference between a law based covenant and a grace based covenant. This chapter bolds, underlines and italicizes the difference.

Specifically, let’s look at the sin offering. 12 goats for the people of Israel, and that’s just for ONE DAY. Elsewhere in scripture we read about the fact that whenever someone knows themselves to be guilty of sin, they are required to give a lamb as a sin offering.

I don’t know about you, but if that were still in place today I’d be burning an awful lot of sheep; and that’s not even counting sins that I commit unknowingly.

But I’m not an Israelite or a Jew; I am a Christian. My sin is covered by the blood shed by Christ on the cross. Once for all!

So when we look at this there are two reactions we can very correctly have.

The first is to note how seriously God takes our sin (as well as understanding just how Holy God is, and how reverent the people of Israel are towards Him).

The second is to be incredibly grateful that He should create a permanent way of dealing with sin.