Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 7:3
And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.
Covered wagons – Some prefer to render litter Isa 66:20 wagons: i. e. litters which were not on wheels, but borne by two oxen, one in front and one behind. Such conveyances would probably be more convenient than wheeled wagons in the rough country to be traversed.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Six covered wagons] shesh egloth tsab, six tilted wagons, the Septuagint translate , with which the Coptic agrees; but what lampenic chariots were, no person pretends to know. Covered or tilted is probably the meaning of the original. The wagons were given for the more convenient exporting of the heavier parts of the tabernacle, which could not be conveniently carried on men’s shoulders.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Covered wagons, for the more convenient and safe carriage of such things as were most cumbersome.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And they brought their offering before the Lord,…. Before the tabernacle, as it is afterwards explained, where he had now taken up his habitation:
six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; according to the number of the twelve tribes, of which they were princes, two oxen for each wagon, which were to carry the tabernacle, and its vessels, from place to place; and which wagons were covered, not only to hide the things to be put into them from the sight of the people, being sacred, but to preserve them from the rain and dust, and the like; and no doubt, but as they were made of the best materials, So they were covered with rich coverings for the honour of the vessels put into them, being the presents of princes, and in which they joined, and could not be ordinary carriages. The word is rendered “litters” in Isa 66:20; and by some, “coaches”; the Targum of Jonathan is,
“six wagons yoked,”
or drawn with a yoke of oxen; and Aben Ezra says, it signifies a kind of oxen which drew wagons; but the Targum of Jonathan, Jarchi, and Ben Gersom interpret it “covered”, as we do:
a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox; two princes joined in the present of one wagon, which shows it could not be a common wagon, but rich carriage, and ornamented, as the Targum of Jonathan adds; and each prince presented an ox, so that there was a yoke of them for each wagon:
and they brought them before the tabernacle; the Targum of Jonathan says, Moses would not receive them, and therefore they brought them before the tabernacle; and so, says Jarchi, Moses received them not at their hands, until it was declared to him by the mouth of the Lord what he should do, as follows.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. And they brought their offering before the Lord, six covered waggons These waggons were dedicated for the conveyance of the tabernacle: for its pillars and many other parts of it could not be carried on men’s shoulders; and therefore they are said to have been covered, lest the things which were deposited in them should be exposed to the rain. For it is by no means suitable to suppose that they were litters; (400) and, in fact, a pair of oxen is assigned to every waggon. It is pretty clear, then, that the materials of the tabernacle were placed in them when they were travelling from one place to another.
This oblation is stated to have been made “before the Lord,” and then “before the tabernacle,” but the meaning is precisely the same; for God had, as it were, put on that face in which he might be beheld by believers. What follows, “But the Lord had spoken to Moses,” etc., I thus interpret, That God had required this tribute of the people: I have thought it well, therefore, to render it in the pluperfect tense, whereas others translate it, “The Lord said unto Moses,” as if Moses had not been ordered to receive it, before it was actually presented by the princes and the people. Indeed, it is probable that the number of the waggons was not accidentally determined, but by a just calculation of the things which they were to carry.
(400) So Vatablus, quoted in Poole. “In Lev 11:29, (says Ainsworth,) צב (tsab) is a tortoise, so called from the shell that covereth it: accordingly here they may be called עגלת צב, (gnegeloth tsab,) waggons of the tortoise, (or of covering,) because they were like to a tortoise, covered above.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
THE GIFT OF WAGONS AND OXEN, Num 7:3-9.
3. Six covered wagons We cannot defend “litters” as the vehicles here intended, as argued by Gesenius and De Wette. The word etymologically signifies a rolling thing. This meaning is confirmed by its mention in connexion with yokes of oxen. Six times it is translated wagons, fifteen times cart, and once chariot. These covered wagons were probably constructed on Egyptian models. Herodotus mentions a four-wheeled Egyptian vehicle used for sacred purposes. Every two princes gave a wagon and each gave an ox. There is no record of any invitation given by Moses for the presentation of these, as there was in the case of the materials for the tabernacle. We have only a part of his sayings. See closing note on Leviticus 25.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Offering of the Wagons and Oxen ( Num 7:3-9 ).
Num 7:3
‘And they brought their oblation before Yahweh, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for every two of the princes, and for each one an ox. And they presented them before the tabernacle.’
Their first concern was shown by their action in regard to the Dwellingplace. They brought before Yahweh six covered wagons, each with two oxen to draw it. The singular ‘ox’ denotes that each prince contributed an ox. These would enable the Dwellingplace to be carried safely and securely, and free from any danger of defilement.
“They presented them before the Tabernacle.” They could not bring them into the courtyard to ‘present them before Yahweh’, so they did the next best thing. By these gifts they expressed their gratitude for His dwelling among them, and their desire for the maintenance of His holy status.
In the same way God looks to us all to provide for the work of God what is necessary for its continuance so that His work will prosper.
Num 7:4
‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,’
Yahweh responded to their gift. He came with a special word to Moses. God always takes note of what we give. Remember the widow in the Temple (Mar 12:41-44). No gift, however small, goes unnoticed, as long as the heart and motive is right. Indeed its size is irrelevant. What counts most is the proportionate cost.
Num 7:5
“ Take it of them, that they may be used in doing the service of the tent of meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.”
Moses was to accept the offerings, and was instructed that they were to be used in the service of the Dwellingplace, the Tent of meeting. To this end they were to be given to the Levites, to those with overall responsibility for the conveyance of the different parts of the Dwellingplace, according to requirements for the carrying out of their ‘service’.
Num 7:6
‘And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites.’
And Moses did what Yahweh had commanded. He took the wagons and oxen and gave them to the Levites.
Num 7:7
‘Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service,’
Two of them with their ox teams he gave to the sons of Gershon. They would be sufficient for the main body of the Tent of meeting.
Num 7:8
‘And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.’
And he gave four of them to the sons of Merari, who needed more wagons because of all the bits and pieces that they had to carry. These were all under the control of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the High Priest.
Num 7:9
‘But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary belonged to them They bore it on their shoulders.’
But the sons of Kohath did not receive a wagon. They bore the sacred furniture, and that had to be carried bodily by them. The furniture was provided with staves or poles for the purpose. It must not be thrown about in a wagon as a result of the roughness of the way. It was to be given personal attention.
So God made ready for his servants all that was necessary for their service, even before He appointed them to it. We may always be sure that when God calls men into His service, His provision for them has already been made.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
If, as some suppose, these waggons were for the purpose of carrying the tabernacle furniture, from place to place; doth it not serve to teach that everything on earth, even ordinances and temple service are moveable things in GOD’S house. None but JESUS is a lasting mercy. Sweet LORD! it is thy peculiar character, that thou art the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Heb 13:8 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
brought. Same as “offered”, Num 7:2.
offering = approach offering. Hebrew. korban. App-43.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
they brought
It is beautiful to observe that, though the offerings of the princes were identical, each is separately recorded by the pen of inspiration. (Cf) Mar 12:41-44.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
covered wagons: The Hebrew egloth tzav, signifies “tilted wagons;” so LXX , with which the Coptic agrees. These were given for the more convenient exporting of the heavier parts of the tabernacle. Num 7:3
Reciprocal: Gen 45:21 – wagons Exo 25:2 – they Num 7:73 – General 1Ki 8:1 – chief of the fathers 1Ch 29:5 – General Ezr 2:68 – offered freely
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7:3 And they brought their offering before the LORD, six {a} covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.
(a) Like horse litters, to keep the things that were carried in them from the weather.