Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The day the tabernacle was fully set up and anointed, along with all its furnishings and the altar, Moses also anointed and sanctified them. The princes of Israel, leaders of their ancestral tribes, presented offerings before the Lord.

They brought six covered wagons and twelve oxen, with two princes sharing a wagon and each having an ox to lead it. These were presented before the tabernacle for everyone to see. The Lord instructed Moses, "Take these wagons and oxen from them for the service of the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the Levites according to their duties."

Moses accepted the gifts from the princes and gave them to the Levites as assigned by God. He distributed two wagons and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, according to their role in carrying the tabernacle's equipment on their shoulders.

To the sons of Merari, who also carried the tabernacle's equipment, Moses gave four wagons and eight oxen for their use under Ithamar son of Aaron, the high priest. However, no gifts were given to the Kohathites because they carried the most sacred objects in the sanctuary on their shoulders.

The princes then offered their offerings before the altar on the day it was anointed. The Lord instructed Moses that each prince should present his gift on a designated day for the dedication of the altar.

Nahshon, son of Amminadab and leader of Judah's descendants, made the first offering. He presented one silver platter weighing 130 shekels, one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both full of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering, and one golden spoon weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

Nahshon also offered one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year as burnt offerings. For a sin offering, he presented one goat kid. As peace offerings, he brought two oxen, five rams, five goats, and five lambs in their first year.

The next day, Nethaneel, son of Zuar and leader of Issachar's descendants, offered his gifts: one silver platter weighing 130 shekels, one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both full of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering, and one golden spoon weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

He also presented one young bull, one ram, and one lamb in its first year as burnt offerings. For a sin offering, he brought one goat kid. As peace offerings, he offered two oxen, five rams, five goats, and five lambs in their first year.

The third day belonged to Eliab, son of Helon and leader of Zebulun's descendants. His gift included one silver platter weighing 130 shekels, one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both full of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering, and one golden spoon weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

He offered one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year as burnt offerings. For a sin offering, he brought one goat kid. As peace offerings, he presented two oxen, five rams, five goats, and five lambs in their first year.

The fourth day belonged to Elizur, son of Shedeur and leader of Reuben's descendants. His gift included one silver charger weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both full of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering, and one golden spoon weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

He offered one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year as burnt offerings. For a sin offering, he brought one goat kid. As peace offerings, he presented two oxen, five rams, five goats, and five lambs in their first year.

The fifth day belonged to Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai and leader of Simeon's descendants. His gift included one silver charger weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both full of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering, and one golden spoon weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

He offered one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year as burnt offerings. For a sin offering, he brought one goat kid. As peace offerings, he presented two oxen, five rams, five goats, and five lambs in their first year.

The sixth day belonged to Eliasaph, son of Deuel and leader of Gad's descendants. His gift included one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both full of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering, and one golden spoon weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

He offered one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year as burnt offerings. For a sin offering, he brought one goat kid. As peace offerings, he presented two oxen, five rams, five goats, and five lambs in their first year.

The seventh day belonged to Elishama, son of Ammihud and leader of Ephraim's descendants. His gift included one silver charger weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both full of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering, and one golden spoon weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

He offered one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year as burnt offerings. For a sin offering, he brought one goat kid. As peace offerings, he presented two oxen, five rams, five goats, and five lambs in their first year.

The eighth day belonged to Abidan, son of Gideoni and leader of Benjamin's descendants. His gift included one silver charger weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both full of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering, and one golden spoon weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

He offered one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year as burnt offerings. For a sin offering, he brought one goat kid. As peace offerings, he presented two oxen, five rams, five goats, and five lambs in their first year.

The ninth day belonged to Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai and leader of the Danites. His gift included one silver charger weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both full of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering, and one golden spoon weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

He offered one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year as burnt offerings. For a sin offering, he brought one goat kid. As peace offerings, he presented two oxen, five rams, five goats, and five lambs in their first year.

The tenth day belonged to Pagiel, son of Ocran and leader of Asher's descendants. His gift included one silver charger weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both full of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering, and one golden spoon weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

He offered one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year as burnt offerings. For a sin offering, he brought one goat kid. As peace offerings, he presented two oxen, five rams, five goats, and five lambs in their first year.

The eleventh day belonged to Ahira, son of Enan and leader of Naphtali's descendants. His gift included one silver charger weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing 70 shekels, both full of fine flour mixed with oil as a meal offering, and one golden spoon weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

He offered one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year as burnt offerings. For a sin offering, he brought one goat kid. As peace offerings, he presented two oxen, five rams, five goats, and five lambs in their first year.

The princes of Israel completed the dedication of the altar with gifts worth 2,400 shekels of silver, consisting of twelve silver chargers, each weighing 130 shekels, and twelve silver bowls, each weighing 70 shekels.

In addition to these, they brought twelve golden spoons, each weighing ten shekels. These were used for incense in the sanctuary. For peace offerings, the princes offered a total of twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty goats, and sixty lambs in their first year.

When Moses entered the tabernacle to speak with God, he heard a voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat on the ark of testimony, between the two cherubim.