When this was spoken, says Bp. Patrick, is not certain. If Moses went into the tabernacle immediately after the princes had offered (Numbers 7:89), it may be thought he then spake these things unto him; but both this and what follows, concerning the Levites, seem rather to have been delivered after the order for giving them to the priests, and appointing their several charges (Numbers 3:1 and Numbers 4:1).
But some other things intervening, which depended upon what had been ordered respecting their camp, and that of the Israelites, Moses omits this until he had stated them, and some other matters which he had received from God.
(See note on Numbers 7:11.