This chapter gives an account of the presents brought, by the princes of the twelve tribes at the setting up of the tabernacle, for the use of it, Nu 7:1; and at the dedication of the altar, and the service of that, Nu 7:10; first of the prince of the tribe of Judah, Nu 7:12; then of the prince of Issachar, Nu 7:18; of the prince of Zebulun, Nu 7:24; of the prince of Reuben, Nu 7:30; of the prince of Simeon, Nu 7:36; of the prince of Gad, Nu 7:42; of the prince of Ephraim, Nu 7:48; of the prince of Manasseh, Nu 7:54; of the prince of Benjamin, Nu 7:60; of the prince of Dan, Nu 7:66; of the prince of Asher, Nu 7:72; of the prince of Naphtali, Nu 7:78; the sum of all which follows, Nu 7:84; and the chapter is concluded with a token of God's approbation and acceptance of the whole, Nu 7:89.
Ver. 1. And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle,.... Not on the very exact day on which it was first reared up, for that was on the first day of the first month of the second year from the coming up of Israel out of Egypt, Ex 40:17; whereas the following offerings of the princes were not offered, and many other things previous to them, recorded in the preceding chapters, were not done, until after the first day of the second month of that year, Nu 1:1; though the Jews say the first of Nisan, or of the first month, was the first for various things, and the first on which the princes offered; but no one particular day can be intended, because the princes were twelve days successively offering their offerings; wherefore "the day" here only denotes the time about which it was when this service was performed; when the tabernacle was not only set up, but "fully" set up, when everything relating to it was in its proper place and order; when not only it was put together, and all the vessels and instruments of it in their due place, but also when the people of Israel, for whose sake it was erected, that the Lord God might dwell among them, were numbered, and their camps formed and pitched around the tabernacle; and the Levites were taken and numbered also, who were to serve at it, and their place and service were appointed unto them about it; for then, and not till then, was the service of it completed, and its proper place and situation fixed and settled:and had anointed it; with the holy oil Moses was directed to make and anoint it with, Ex 30:23;and sanctified it: set it apart for holy use and service, to be an habitation for God, and the place of his worship:and all the instruments thereof; the ark, table, candlestick, &c.
both the altars, and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them,and sanctified them; the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering, and all appertaining: thereunto; according to Ben Gersom, this finishing of the whole was at the end of the seven days of consecration of Aaron and his sons, Ex 29:35.
Seder Olam Rabba, c. 7. p. 21.