7:1-89
This is the longest chapter in the Pentateuch, but is extremely repetitive. In Exodus we had the instructions for the setting up of the tabernacle. Moses has now finished setting up the Tent in accordance with those instructions, he then anoints and consecrates all the utensils, furnishings and the altar. It is not just the altar that is anointed and consecrated, this is applied to all parts of it.
Then all the leaders of Israel’s families bring gifts. They come one tribe at a time, one day at a time, and every tribe brings exactly the same set of gifts and offerings, and this is repeated verbatim for each tribe, hence the length of the chapter. I have to admit that if a student wrote this for me I would be suggesting that they could express themselves a little more succinctly. However, the repetition is probably meant to express the fact that each tribe’s gift had exactly the same value.
At the end of it we get the sum total of the gifts. Finally, Moses enters the Tent and God speaks to Him. So we have a place where Moses is able to meet with God.
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