When Moses had finished setting up the Ohel Moed (Tabernacle) and had dedicated all the implements to God, each head of a Tribe (except Levi) brought an offering of six wagons and twelve cattle.  These Moses gave to the Levites. They were to use them to carry around the Ohel Moed as the Hebrews wandered in the Wilderness.  Just think!  That’s 72 wagons and 144 cattle just to carry around the Ohel Moed.  How big it must have been!

After that, the heads of the Tribes brought offerings for the launching of the Ohel Moed, one guy per day.  The first head, Nahshon, brought bowls of silver filled with flour and oil, a ladle of gold filled with incense, a young bull, a lamb, a hairy goat, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats and five lambs.

Each day, a tribal head brought a similar offering: gold, silver, flour, incense, animals.  Each person’s offering is listed carefully in the Torah.

Food for Thought

Why was everyone willing to bring such lavish gifts?