“And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;”
The day. The second of the second month, the year after the Hebrews left Egypt. We might read this chapter immediately after the 10th of Leviticus.
“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. Destined to carry some parts of the tabernacle. (Calmet) — The Septuagint use a term which, according to Hesychius, denotes the chariots in which people of quality travelled, Lampenes. (Menochius)
“And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.”
Four. The sons of Merari were not very numerous, (chap. iv. 44,) and they had the heaviest parts of the tabernacle to carry. The metal alone would weigh 274,875 Roman pounds, of 12 ounces each; not to mention the pillars, &c. If 100 waggons carried each 3000 pounds, and every man 50, they would not carry one half; so that the people must have furnished them with many more waggons besides these four of the princes. (Jansenius) (Calmet) — Abulensis thinks the Merarites carried all that was not laid on the four waggons. (Menochius)
“And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.”
That day. About that time; the ceremony lasted at least 12 days, ver. 84. (Tirinus)
“And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.”
Altar of holocausts, the dedication of which continued seven days, Exodus xxix. 36. (Menochius)
“And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:”
Dish, (acetabulum.) Hebrew kaharath. See Exodus xxv. 29. This present of the prince of Juda weighed five Roman pounds. It was of silver, and consequently could not be used in the sanctuary, but in the court, (Calmet) at the altar of holocausts. (Tirinus)
“One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense:”
Mortar. Hebrew caph, which the Vulgate commonly renders phiala, “a cup,” (Menochius) may signify a spoon for incense, as it generally accompanies the censer, 3 Kings vii. 20. It means literally “the palm of the hand.” The high priest took his hands full of incense on the day of expiation, Leviticus xvi. 12. But on other occasions, a spoon was probably used to throw incense on the altar, or on the coals which were burning in the censers. (Calmet)
“And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar.”
Buck-goats, (hircos). The same as the he-goats given by Nahasson. The presents of all the 12 princes are equal; and Moses mentions them in detail with equal honour. They give them according to the order in which they encamped. Juda, with his two tribes, first; then Ruben, &c.
“And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him. with him: that is, with God”
Oracle of God, whose majesty appeared, in the form of a bright cloud, upon the propitiatory, or mercy-seat. (Haydock) — Moses is allowed to enter in quality of God’s messenger, to announce his will to the people; or perhaps he heard the mandates of God, standing without the veil. (Du Hamel)