Numbers 7:48-53 meaning

Review Status

On the seventh day, the tribe of Ephraim brought offerings to the tabernacle. Their offerings were the same as all the other tribes.

Starting with the day of the dedication of the tabernacle (the tent of meeting), each of the 12 tribes would bring gifts to the Levites over the following 12 days-one tribe per day, amounting to a 12—day dedication ceremony.

The next day, the seventh day (v. 48), Elishama the son of Ammihud, leader of the sons of Ephraim, presented his offering. Elishama ("my God has heard") was mentioned in Numbers 1:10 as the leader of the tribe of Ephraim.

The offering of the tribe of Ephraim was identical to the other tribes and consisted of the following items:

One silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels (v. 49). This made the dish about 3.3 pounds (1.5 kilograms) of silver.
One silver bowl of seventy shekels. This made the bowl about 1.75 pounds (or 0.8 kilograms) of silver. The standard weight of the "shekel" was based according to the shekel of the sanctuary, making it around 0.4 ounces.
The silver dish and silver bowl were full of fine flour mixed with oil. The "flour" was to be used for a grain offering.
One gold pan of ten shekels (v. 50), or about 0.24 pounds (110 grams) of gold. The "pan" was presented full of incense.
One young bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering (v. 51).
One male goat for a sin offering (v. 52).
The next items were to be used for the sacrifice of peace offerings (v. 53), and they consisted of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old.

All of the items above comprised the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.

Numbers 7:48-53

48 On the seventh day it was Elishama the son of Ammihud, leader of the sons of Ephraim;

49 his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one 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 grain offering;

50 one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense;

51 one bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;

52 one male goat for a sin offering;

53 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.