Numbers 7:2

And the leaders of Israel, the heads of their families, presented an offering. These men were the tribal leaders who had supervised the registration.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator records the moment immediately following Moses' completion of the tabernacle's consecration. The tribal heads who previously supervised the census now approach to present a collective offering.

The words — The verb וַיַּקְרִיבוּ (va.yakrivu) literally means "and they brought near," denoting the physical presentation of gifts. The noun נְשִׂיאֵי (ne'sitei) translates as "leaders" or "princes," specifically identifying those who headed their ancestral families.

The thread — This pattern of tribal heads contributing to sanctuary infrastructure appears in Exodus 35:27 and mirrors the census administration outlined in Numbers 1:4 and Numbers 2:1. The same officials who organized the population count now supply the worship equipment.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to observe that administrative oversight and material contribution are linked to the same group. It establishes that community leadership is defined by direct, tangible support of the central worship site.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיַּקְרִ֙יבוּ֙va/i.yak.Ri.vuand/ they brought near נְשִׂיאֵ֣יne.si.'Ei[the] leaders of יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsrael רָאשֵׁ֖יra.Shei[the] heads of בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house of אֲבֹתָ֑ם'a.vo.Ta/mancestors/ their הֵ֚םhemthey נְשִׂיאֵ֣יne.si.'Ei[were] [the] leaders of הַמַּטֹּ֔תha./ma.Totthe/ tribes הֵ֥םhemthey הָעֹמְדִ֖יםha./'o.me.Dim[were] the/ [ones who] stood עַל־'al-over הַפְּקֻדִֽים׃ha./pe.ku.Dimthe/ enrolled [men]

King James Version

That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered:

Cross-references

Numbers 1:4 And one man from each tribe, the head of each family, must be there with you.
Exodus 35:27 The leaders brought onyx stones and gemstones to mount on the ephod and breastpiece,
Numbers 2:1 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron:
Numbers 10:1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
1 Chronicles 29:6 Then the leaders of the families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly.
2 Chronicles 35:8 His officials also contributed willingly to the people and priests and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officials of the house of God, gave the priests 2,600 Passover offerings and 300 bulls.
Ezra 2:68 When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings to rebuild the house of God on its original site.
Nehemiah 7:70 Some of the heads of the families contributed to the project. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments.