The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 83

Ver. 10.-For dedicating of the altar. After the shekel of the aanctuary. Accorcl- The altar was "dedicated " in the sense of ing to the standard weight kept in the taber- being consecrated, by the anointing with the nacle (see Exod. xxx. 13). It seems to have sacred oil and with the blood of tho appointed weighed about as much as half-a-crown. Full sacrifices (Levit. viii. 10, 15). But it conld ot fine flour minglell with oil. This was for still be " dedicated " in another senso by the a present meat offering to accompany the sacrificial gifts, freely offered for the purpose, animal sacrifices, and also to intimate the of the people. No roles appear to have been future use of the vessels-the larger as a made as to dedications, but there is an al- measure for the fine flonr, the smaller as a lusion in Deut. x.x. 5 to the dedication of measure for the oil houses, which may have been accompanied Ver. 14.-One 11poon, or small cup, with a with religious rites, and we know that as a handle. Hebrew, kaph, as in Exod. xxv. 29. fact the temple was dedicated by Solomon Septuagint, ~vi11u1. Of ten shekels of gold- (2 Chron. vii. 15), and re-dedicated by the weighing about as much as eleven and a half Maccabeea (1 Mace. iv. 54, sq.), and the wall soTians, but the value of the precious metals of Jerusalem was dedicated by Nehemiah was much ~eater then. Full of incense. (Neh. xii. 27, sq.). The Septuagint has here Both for a present incense offering, and as iii: rov lyr:a,v,apov, as in 1 Mace. iv. 56, intimatiDg the use of the cups. and cf. John x. 22. Oft'ered their olfering Yer. 15.---0ne young bullock, one ram, before the altar. This assuredly points to one lamb. One of each kind that might be an offering made in common, and made at offered for a burnt offering (Levit. i. 2). one time, viz., on the day when the altar Ver. 16.-0ne kid of the goats. Literally, was anointed. It may be that the twelve "one shaggy one." Hebrew, sa 'eer. Septua- princes all came for the purpose of making gint, xiµapov (see on Levit. iv. 23). 1t is their offerings on that day, the day they noticeable that while the burnt offerings and would naturally choose for the purpose; but peace offerings were multiplied, the sin otTer- on account of the great number of other ing remllined a single victim. sacrifices, and the fewness of the priests, Ver. 17.-For a aacriflce ot peace offer- their offerings were postponed by the Divine ings. See Levit. iii. 1, 6, 12. These were command, and were actually received later. the most multiplied, o.s befitted an occasion Thus in will and in meaning the offerings of joy and of thankful communion ";t11 the were made "on the day" of the consecration, God of Israel. but were publicly and solemnly received at Ver. 23. -This waa the ofl'ering of Ne- some subsequent time. thaneel the son of Zuar. His otTering, and Ver. 11. - The Lord said unto ]l{oaee. that of all the rest, is described in exactly Doubtless in answer to his inquiry (see ver. the s11me wor,ls and phrases, with the single 89), at the time when the princes desired to minute exception, that in ver. 19 we have, make their offeriDgs. Eaoh prince on his " he offel'ed for his offering," instead of " his day. For more convenience and solemnity, offijring was." Even the small peculiarity of that the sacrifices might not be hurried over, omitting the word shekels from the state- and that none might feel neglected. ment of the weight of the silver chargers and Ver. 12.-Nahahon. The same appointed the golden spoons appears throughout (er. to act with Moses in the census, and to be Gen. u. 16). No doubt the record was captain of the children of Judah (eh. i. 7 ; copiad or enlarged from some document ii. 3). The names of the other princes are written at the time, and its studied same- to be found in the so.me passages, and their ness reflects the careful and equal solemnity order in presenting is their order for the with which the offerings of the sevcml princes march. This soems to show that their offer• were received. ings were 11ctually made 11fter the arrangement Ver. 48.-On the seventh day. This lid of the camps had been settled. not necessarily fall on the sabbath ; but if Ver. 13.-Hia oft'ering waa. And exactly the days of offering were consecutive, one of the same was the offering of each of the rest. them must have done so, and the order of This was right and good, because it showed offering wa., the same o.s on other days. an equal zeal and thankfulness and forward- Ver. 84.-Thia was the dedioation of the ness to give unto the Lord, and it took away altar. The sacrificial gifts for presont sacri- all occasion for jealousy or boasting. One fice, and for the__ use of the altar, were its silver oharger, or dish. Hebrew, kearah, a dedication. deep vessel (Exod. xxv. 9). Septuagint, Ver. 85.-Two thousand and four hun- Tpu{3Xiov (cf. Matt. xxvi. 23). An hundred dred ahekels. In weight equal to about and thirtyahekela-weighing about as much £300 of our money. as 3215 shilliDgs. One silver bowl. Hebrew, Ver. 86.-An hundred and twenty shekels. ,1iiirak, from ziirak, to s :atter; a bowl for About £138. These values were not very ]:louring; translated bnson Exod. uvii. 3. gre11t, nor was the number of the animals Septuagint, f1a'A11 (cf. Rev. v. 8 ; xv. 7). very large, as comparel\ with the lavish, and  GO TIIE BOOK OF NUMBERS. [en. rn. 1-89.