Repetition, Repetition, Repetition; Num 7

May the mumbling commence!

Today, I read Numbers chapter seven.  Today, I read Numbers chapter seven.  Today, I read Numbers chapter seven. Today, I read Numbers chapter seven. Today, I read Numbers chapter seven…  You get the idea.  There is a lot of repetition in Numbers chapter seven.  The consecration of the altar and its utensils begins at verse ten.  Starting with verse twelve, the pattern of offerings begins.  With the twelve tribes of Israel, the pattern of offerings continues to verse 83.  That’s 71 verses of a pattern that has no variation except from the names of the leaders and the tribes they represent.  It’s like the twelve days of Christmas meets 99 bottles of beer on the wall.  It is not exactly exciting reading – kind of like reading a phonebook.

Is there anything to the order of the tribes?  Judah comes first.  Judah was the fourth son of Leah, and the tribe from which Jesus will come.  Judah steps forward first to help consecrate the altar of the Lord.  That seems fitting.  Issachar was the fifth son of Leah; and Zebulun, Leah’s sixth and last born son was next.  Reuben was next, and he was Leah’s firstborn son.  (He fell from grace by sleeping with his father’s concubine Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant.)  Simeon was next, and he was Leah’s second son.  Then, Gad presented; and Gad was the firstborn of Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant.

After Gad, there is a break.  Ephraim and Manasseh are next; they were the sons of Joseph, who was the firstborn of Rachel.  Then, Benjamin went next; Benjamin was Rachel’s last born son – she died giving him birth. 

Another break occurs here, and the children of the maidservants come.  Dan came next, and Dan was the firstborn of Bilhah.  Asher was next, and Asher was the second born of Zilpah.  And last but not least, Naphtali gave his offering for the consecration of the altar.  Naphtali was the second born of Bilhah.

Although Jacob loved Rachel more than her sister Leah, Jacob recognized the love God had for Leah.  Jacob buried Leah (and not Rachel) in the tomb that held Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, and Rebekah.  It seems that in dedicating the altar the sons of Leah were the first to respond.  Only Levi did not respond of Leah’s children, but his descendants were devoted to the Lord and were took part in all the sacrifices of the listed tribes.  Looking at the order of offerings, only the placement of Gad seems out of place.  I wonder why he came before Rachel’s children…

And, remember that I was pondering the heavy loads of the Levites when the camp of Israel would break and they would travel.  Well, there was further provision by God.  Every two tribes supplied a cart for the transport, equaling six carts.  Every tribe supplied an ox, equaling twelve oxen – two for each cart.  So, this would make easy division with three clans of Levi, right?  Each clan would receive two carts and four oxen, right? 

Not so fast!  Number one: the loads that each clan had to carry were not equally distributed by weight.  Number two: the items of the Holy of Holies had to be carried on the shoulders of the Kohathites.  No animals were to come between the Lord and his people.  [King David made a mistake in regards to this rule when he first attempted to move the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.  David’s mistake cost Uzzah’s life.  (2 Sam 6:1-8)]  So, how about giving three carts and six oxen a piece for the two remaining clans?

Not so fast!  The Merarites, who had to transport the heavy frames and cross beams, got twice as much as the Gershonites.  Wood covered with precious metals would be considerably heavier than the curtains.  The Lord supplies aid to those who are heavily laden.  That’s why Jesus can say, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Keep in step with the Lord, and He will take care of you.

Oh, yes, the totals are in for the consecration of the altar (7:84-88).  And we thought the totals of the twelve days of Christmas were bountiful!  There were 12 silver plates and gold bowls (total silver: 60 pounds; total gold: 3 pounds).  And, then, the animals amounted to 12 bulls, 72 rams, 72 lambs, 72 goats, and 24 oxen.  What an awesome amount of offering!  What an awesome God who walks along with His people and takes care of them!  Wouldn’t it be great to speak with the Lord as Moses did before the Ark of the Covenant (verse 89)?

Enough mumbling for today…

Peace Out