Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 7:14

One spoon of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense:

Verse 14. One spoon] caph, a censer, on which they put the incense. See Ex 25:29.

It is worthy of remark that the different tribes are represented here as bringing their offerings precisely in the same order in which they encamped about the tabernacle. See Nu 2:1-31 and Nu 10:13-27.

It is worthy of remark also, that every tribe offers the same kind of offering, and in the same quantity, to show, that as every tribe was equally indebted to God for its support, so each should testify an equal sense of obligation. Besides, the vessels were all sacrificial vessels, and the animals were all clean animals, such as were proper for sacrifices; and therefore every thing was intended to point out that the people were to be a holy people, fully dedicated to God, and that God was to dwell among them; hence there were fine flour and oil, for a meat-offering, Nu 7:13. A bullock, a ram, and a lamb, for a burnt-offering, Nu 7:15-16. Five oxen, five rams, five he-goats, and five lambs, for a peace-offering, Nu 7:17. Thus, as the priests, altars, &c., were anointed, and the tabernacle dedicated, so the people, by this offering, became consecrated to God. Therefore every act here was a religious act.

“Thus,” says Mr. Ainsworth, “by sacrifices of all sorts, figuring the death of Christ, and the benefits that were to be received thereby, they reconciled and made themselves and theirs acceptable to God, and were made partakers of his grace, to remission of sins, and sanctification through faith, and in the work of the Holy Ghost, in the communion and feeling whereof they rejoiced before God.”

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Ten shekels of gold, and therefore belonging to the altar of incense.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

One spoon of ten [shekels] of gold, c. Its weight was according to the shekels, its matter of gold it weighed four ounces, one drachm, and nine grains, and was worth about seven pounds and ten shillings of our money:

full of incense; this looks as if this spoon was designed for the golden altar of incense, which might be at this time also dedicated; but Jarchi understands it as for the altar of burnt offering, and observes, we never find incense belonging to a private person, nor to the outward altar (the altar of burnt offering), but this only, and which was temporary.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

14. One spoon of gold, full of incense Since incense symbolizes prayer, there is here strikingly typified the duty of accompanying our gifts to the Lord with earnest supplication. He cannot receive a prayerless offering such as the worldling sometimes brings to God’s altar.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

spoon: Num 4:7, Exo 37:16, 1Ki 7:50, 2Ki 25:14, 2Ki 25:15, 2Ch 4:22, 2Ch 24:14

incense: Exo 30:7, Exo 30:8, Exo 30:34-38, Exo 35:8

Reciprocal: 2Ki 12:13 – bowls 1Ch 28:17 – the bowls Jer 52:18 – the spoons Mat 2:11 – frankincense

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge