Single lesson
The Tribes Bring Gifts for the Tabernacle
Numbers 7:1–89
In Numbers 7, the leaders of Israel bring gifts after the tabernacle and altar are set apart. This lesson helps children notice the order of events, the repeated offerings, and the way God speaks at the end.
Before you teach
The passage begins when Moses has finished setting up the tabernacle and anointing it with its furniture and the altar. Israel’s leaders then bring gifts before Yahweh. Some gifts are assigned for Levite service, and the leaders also bring dedication offerings for the altar, one leader on each day. At the close, Moses hears Yahweh’s voice in the Tent of Meeting.
Students will be able to retell the main sequence of Numbers 7 and identify that Israel’s leaders gave ordered offerings for the tabernacle and altar, and that Moses heard Yahweh speak in the Tent of Meeting.
Welcome: What happened first?
6 minBegin by asking children to listen for what was already finished before the gifts arrived. Read Numbers 7:1-3 aloud. Point out that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and it had been anointed and sanctified. Then the princes, or leaders, of Israel brought offerings before Yahweh, including six covered wagons and twelve oxen.
Numbers 7:1, Numbers 7:2, Numbers 7:3
Read and explain: Gifts given for service
6 minRead Numbers 7:4-9. Explain that Yahweh told Moses to accept the wagons and oxen for the service of the Tent of Meeting. Moses distributed them according to each group’s service: Gershon received two wagons and four oxen, Merari received four wagons and eight oxen, and Kohath received none because they carried the sanctuary on their shoulders.
Numbers 7:4, Numbers 7:5, Numbers 7:6, Numbers 7:7, Numbers 7:8, Numbers 7:9
Discuss: One leader on each day
6 minRead Numbers 7:10-11, then show the pattern with a few examples from the chapter. Yahweh said each prince should offer on his own day for the dedication of the altar. Judah’s leader offered on the first day, Issachar’s on the second, and Zebulun’s on the third. The chapter later sums up the full set of dedication offerings from the princes of Israel.
Numbers 7:10, Numbers 7:11, Numbers 7:12, Numbers 7:18, Numbers 7:24, Numbers 7:84
Make and respond: Build the sequence
6 minGive children simple cards to place in order: tabernacle finished, leaders bring wagons and oxen, gifts given to Levites, princes bring offerings day by day, total offerings counted, Moses hears Yahweh speak. As they arrange the cards, remind them that the offerings are repeated for each tribe and then counted together at the end.
Numbers 7:1, Numbers 7:3, Numbers 7:6, Numbers 7:11, Numbers 7:84, Numbers 7:89
Closing: What stands out at the end?
6 minRead Numbers 7:84-89. Summarise that the chapter gathers the totals of the dedication offerings and then ends with Moses going into the Tent of Meeting. There he hears Yahweh’s voice speaking from above the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony. Finish by reviewing the sequence children learned from the chapter.
Numbers 7:84, Numbers 7:85, Numbers 7:86, Numbers 7:87, Numbers 7:88, Numbers 7:89
Questions to explore
Why did the sons of Kohath receive no wagons?
Look for the reason in the passage itself: their service was different because they carried the sanctuary on their shoulders.
Numbers 7:9
What did Yahweh say about when the princes should bring their offerings?
Notice that the leaders were not all told to come at once. The passage says each prince brought his offering on his own day.
Numbers 7:11
What happens after the list of offerings is finished?
Read the last verse and describe the change from giving gifts to Moses hearing Yahweh’s voice in the Tent of Meeting.
Numbers 7:89
Make, think or respond
Numbers 7 Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or textas
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Write or draw six moments from the chapter on separate cards: tabernacle finished, leaders bring wagons and oxen, gifts given to Levites, leaders bring offerings day by day, totals counted, Moses hears Yahweh speak.
- Mix the cards and ask children to place them in order using the Bible reading.
- Read the matching verses together after each card is placed.
- If time allows, let children add tribe names for day 1, day 2, and day 12 to the sequence.
This activity helps children follow the order of Numbers 7 and see how the chapter moves from preparation, to repeated offerings, to Moses hearing Yahweh speak.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, use only four cards and read the key verses aloud for them before they order the events.
- For older children, ask them to add the names of several princes and tribes to the correct day in the sequence using the passage.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for this passage. Please help us notice your order, listen carefully to your word, and learn from what your people did here. Amen.
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Numbers 7
1 On the day that Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed it and sanctified it with all its furniture, and the altar with all its vessels, and had anointed and sanctified them;
2 the princes of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, gave offerings. These were the princes of the tribes. These are they who were over those who were counted;
3 and they brought their offering before Yahweh, six covered wagons and twelve oxen; a wagon for every two of the princes, and for each one an ox. They presented them before the tabernacle.
4 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
5 “Accept these from 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.”
6 Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites.
7 He gave two wagons and four oxen to the sons of Gershon, according to their service.
8 He gave four wagons and eight oxen to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary belonged to them; they carried it on their shoulders.
10 The princes gave offerings for the dedication of the altar in the day that it was anointed. The princes gave their offerings before the altar.
11 Yahweh said to Moses, “They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedication of the altar.”
12 He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah,
13 and his offering was: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
14 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
15 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
16 one male goat for a sin offering;
17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
18 On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, gave his offering.
19 He offered for his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
20 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
21 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
22 one male goat for a sin offering;
23 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.
24 On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun,
25 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
26 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
27 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
28 one male goat for a sin offering;
29 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
30 On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben,
31 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
32 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
33 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
34 one male goat for a sin offering;
35 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
36 On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon,
37 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
38 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
39 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
40 one male goat for a sin offering;
41 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
42 On the sixth day, Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad,
43 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
44 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
45 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
46 one male goat for a sin offering;
47 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
48 On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim,
49 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
50 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
51 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
52 one male goat for a sin offering;
53 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
54 On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh,
55 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
56 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
57 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
58 one male goat for a sin offering;
59 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
60 On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin,
61 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
62 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
63 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
64 one male goat for a sin offering;
65 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
66 On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan,
67 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
68 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
69 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
70 one male goat for a sin offering;
71 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
72 On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, prince of the children of Asher,
73 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
74 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
75 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
76 one male goat for a sin offering;
77 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ochran.
78 On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali,
79 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
80 one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
81 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
82 one male goat for a sin offering;
83 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
84 This was the dedication offering of the altar, on the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, twelve golden ladles;
85 each silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary;
86 the twelve golden ladles, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the ladles weighed one hundred twenty shekels;
87 all the cattle for the burnt offering twelve bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs a year old twelve, and their meal offering; and twelve male goats for a sin offering;
88 and all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace offerings: twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty male lambs a year old. This was the dedication offering of the altar, after it was anointed.
89 When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Yahweh, he heard his voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; and he spoke to him.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
