Numbers 7-8, beginning Tabernacle worship

The Tabernacle has been constructed according to God's directions (see Exodus 40). Now, for twelve days the pageantry of its opening continues.

The first thing that happens is the anointing and consecrating by Moses of the Tabernacle and its furnishings.

Following that was the gift from the twelve tribes to Levite branches of the Gershonites and the Merarites of a total of twelve oxen and six carts for the transporting of the parts of the Tabernacle when the Israelites moved, as prescribed by God (see Numbers 4). The Kohathites did not any oxen or carts, for the holy items they were to carry from place to place were to be carried by means of poles on their shoulders.

Once the altar was anointed by Moses, the twelve tribes -- one a day -- brought identical gifts to the Tabernacle. The order of presentation was the same as the order of march (see Numbers 2), with the tribe of Judah leading off. The totals of all the tribes' gifts are then given in verses 84-88.

Moses then enters the Tent of Meeting, or the Tabernacle, and goes into the Holy of Holies. There the Lord speaks with him.

Chapter 8 begins with the words of the Lord directing Moses to tell Aaron how to set up the lamps.

Verse 5 begins the instructions for the setting apart and consecration of the Levites, the tribe of Levi, to the Lord. Verses 5-14 describe the sacrifices and offerings to be made, and then, in the next six verses, the Lord explains very clearly what is going on:

"After you hae purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering, they are to come to do their work at the Tent of Meeting. They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn, the first male offspring from every Israelite woman. Every firstborn male in Israel, whether man or animal, is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for myself. And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel. Of all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons to do the work at the Tent of Meeting on behalf of the Israelites and to make atonement for them so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary."

All the Lord commanded was done.

Thus all the tribes are accounted for during the opening of the Tabernacle ceremonies.