Numbers 7:42-47 · Bible study
Numbers 7:42-47 Commentary: Eliasaph's Equal Offering
Hebrew · 4 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study of Eliasaph's offering in Numbers 7:42-47. Why is his father called Deuel then Reuel? The meaning of identical gifts from each tribe.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Gad's prince offered the same gifts as the other tribes, showing equal standing before God.
- Key words: "Deuel" (H1845, "they know God") and "Reuel" (H7467, "friend of God") possibly a variant spelling or dual name.
- Main debate: Why is Eliasaph's father called Deuel here but Reuel in Numbers 2:14?
- Theological theme: Unity and equality in worship; every tribe matters.
- Best use: A call to celebrate each person's contribution as equally valuable in God's eyes.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
42On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the Gadites, drew near.
43His offering was one silver platter weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel and filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
44one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense;
45one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;
46one male goat for a sin offering;
47and a peace offering of two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.
WEB World English Bible 2000
42On the sixth day, Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad,
43gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred 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 meal offering;
44one golden ladle of ten shekels, full of incense;
45one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
46one male goat for a sin offering;
47and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
KJV King James Version 1769
42On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered:
43His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
44One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
45One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
46One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
47And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
42On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad:
43his oblation was one silver platter, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering;
44one golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense;
45one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;
46one male of the goats for a sin-offering;
47and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs a year old: this was the oblation of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
42On the sixth day, the prince of the sons of Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel; --
43his offering is one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty shekels ; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present;
44one golden spoon of ten shekels , full of perfume;
45one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering;
46one kid of the goats for a sin-offering;
47and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this is the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
42On the sixth day, the prince of the children of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
43His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation;
44one cup of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense;
45one young bullock, one ram, one yearling lamb, for a burnt-offering;
46one buck of the goats for a sin-offering;
47and for a sacrifice of peace-offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
42The sixth day the prince of the sons of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Duel,
43Offered a silver dish weighing a hundred and thirty sicles, a silver bowl of seventy sicles by the weight of the sanctuary, both full of flour tempered with oil for a sacrifice:
44A little mortar of gold weighing ten sicles full of incense:
45An ox of the herd, and a ram, and a lamb of a year old for a holocaust:
46And a buck goat for sin:
47And for sacrifices of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five buck goats, five lambs of a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Duel.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Numbers 7:42
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this passage functions as part of a carefully structured dedication of the altar. Lange notes that the repetition of identical offerings for each prince serves "not merely to awaken universal sacrificial rejoicing" but also to show that all tribes share equal dignity before God. Matthew Henry and the Geneva Bible see the sixth day continuing the orderly sequence commanded in Numbers 7:11, with each tribe giving the same items in the same quantities.
Gill points out that Eliasaph was already named in Numbers 1:14 and 2:14, and that his offering here matches the others exactly, down to the weight of silver, the gold, and each animal. The consensus is clear: no tribe outranks another in worship. Each prince brings the same gifts, on his own day, by divine arrangement. The sheer repetition impresses on Israel that every tribe matters equally in God's presence.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The passage records that Eliasaph, prince of Gad, gave an offering identical to those of the other eleven tribes, including a grain offering, incense, burnt offering, sin offering, and peace offering, on the sixth day of the altar dedication.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Name of Eliasaph's father | Eliasaph's paternal identifier varies between Deuel (7:42) and Reuel (2:14). Both are accepted as referring to the same person. | Some see a simple scribal difference (Hebrew resh vs dalet); others think the father had two names or that 'Reuel' may be a variant form. No major tradition treats it as a contradiction or error. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Numbers 7 takes place immediately after the tabernacle is set up and anointed (Numbers 7:1). The altar has been consecrated, and now the tribal leaders bring gifts for its further dedication. The Lord tells Moses that each prince is to offer "his offering" on a separate day (Numbers 7:11). Eliasaph, son of Deuel (Numbers 7:42) or Reuel (Numbers 2:14), leads the tribe of Gad. Gad was the firstborn of Zilpah, Leah's maid, and camped with Reuben and Simeon on the south side of the tabernacle (Numbers 2:14).
The offerings themselves mirror the prescribed sacrifices for the tabernacle service. Fine flour mixed with oil (Leviticus 2:5) formed the grain offering. Incense burned on the golden altar. The burnt offering, sin offering, and peace offering covered the three main categories of sacrifice: total consecration, purification, and fellowship. The quantities were substantial: a silver platter worth 130 sanctuary shekels, a bowl worth 70, and a gold ladle worth 10. Each shekel was about 11.5 grams of silver and 14 grams of gold in temple weights, making these gifts costly for a fledgling nation in the wilderness. The phrase "shekel of the sanctuary" (Numbers 7:43) anchors the value to the official standard kept at the tabernacle, ensuring fairness and consistency.
Gad's position among the tribes (second behind Reuben in the southern camp) explains his place on the sixth day: the princes presented offerings in the same order as their tribal encampment listed in Numbers 2. This was not random but reflected the God-given arrangement of the camp around the Tabernacle.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant manuscript variants for Numbers 7:42-47. The variation between the names Deuel and Reuel is internal to the book (compare Numbers 2:14) and does not arise from different Hebrew manuscripts. It is understood as a variant spelling (the letters resh and dalet are easily confused in Hebrew script) or as a dual naming, not a textual corruption.
Reception History
Christian interpreters have often pondered why God chose to repeat the same offering list twelve times. The early church saw in this repetition a lesson about spiritual equality: just as each tribe gave the same, so each believer brings a full offering through Christ. Later Reformed commentators such as Matthew Henry read the passage as a celebration of unity amid diversity. In Jewish tradition, the passage is read as a demonstration that no tribe is more holy than another; each stands equally before the altar. The name variation (Deuel/Reuel) has sparked minor discussion but never undermined trust in the text.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Identical gifts declare equal worth. Each prince brought the same items in the same amounts. No tribe was richer or poorer in God's sight. The church today also finds unity in shared worship, not in competition.
- The three offerings cover the whole of life. The burnt offering (total surrender), the sin offering (purity), and the peace offering (thanksgiving) together show that God asks for everything, devotion, cleansing, and gratitude.
- God records each giver by name. Eliasaph is not lost in a crowd. God knows the name, the father, and the tribe. This personal attention encourages every believer that their giving matters to Him.
Five-point outline
- The dedication of the altar required multiple days and many hands.
- Each tribe brought the same costly gift, teaching equality before God.
- The offerings covered grain, incense, burnt, sin, and peace, every layer of worship.
- The order of presentation followed the camp arrangement (Numbers 2).
- The careful record (vessels, weights, animals) shows God values details.
Illustration hooks
- A classroom that receives identical supplies. No student gets more or less; the teacher treats each equally. In worship, no believer outranks another.
- A family reunion where every cousin brings the same dish. The repeated dish becomes a symbol of shared celebration rather than competition.
- A sports team where every player runs the same drills. Equal training reflects equal importance; the star is not exempt from the basics.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does the Bible repeat the same list twelve times? Doesn't God care about brevity?
- Does this passage mean we should all give the same amount to church?
- What does the name "Deuel" mean and why does Numbers 2 call him "Reuel"?
Leading a Discussion
This passage seems repetitive, but the repetition carries meaning. Each tribe gave the same gifts, on its own day, recorded in the same words. As you read, notice what stays the same and what changes, only the name and tribe. That pattern is the point.
Discussion questions
- List all the items in Eliasaph's offering. Why do you think each category of sacrifice was included?
- Why might God have instructed each prince to give on a separate day instead of all at once? What effect does that have on the community?
- Eliasaph's father is called Deuel here but Reuel in Numbers 2:14. What does that difference suggest about how the Bible handles names? Does it weaken trust in the text?
- What would it feel like to be one of the later tribes (like Gad on day six) giving exactly what the first tribe gave? Does equal giving feel like competition or unity?
- How does the "shekel of the sanctuary" (v.43) ensure fairness? What does that principle say about God's character?
- In what areas of church life today do we tend to rank contributions, time, money, talent? What would equal participation look like in your congregation?
- How can you personally bring a "whole offering" (burnt, sin, peace) before God this week?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 1:14 | Of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel. |
| Numbers 2:14 | “The tribe of Gad: the prince of the children of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. |
| Leviticus 2:5 | If your offering is a meal offering made on a griddle, it shall be of unleavened fine flour, mixed with oil. |
| Leviticus 14:10 | “On the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without defect, one ewe lamb a year old without defect, three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, and one log of oil. |
| Hebrews 1:9 | You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.” |
| I John 2:27 | As for you, the anointing which you received from him remains in you, and you don’t need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, you will remain in him. |
| Psalms 66:15 | I will offer to you burnt offerings of fat animals, with the offering of rams, I will offer bulls with goats. Selah. |
| Isaiah 53:4 | Surely he has borne our sickness and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
4 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes emphasize the exact weights and measures of each offering item, showing that God prescribed every detail of worship. Nothing was left to human choice; even the silver charger and golden incense cup had fixed sanctuary weights. This precise record underscores that faithful giving follows God's specified order.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights that Eliasaph's offering follows the exact same pattern as every other tribal prince: a silver charger, a golden spoon of incense, and the prescribed animals for burnt, sin, and peace offerings. The repetition underscores the equal dignity and uniform worship each tribe brings before the Lord.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange reads this chapter as preparing the tabernacle to serve as
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that each prince brought exactly the same gift, showing that no tribe was favored over another in this sacred service. The order began with Judah, the leading tribe, setting a pattern of orderly dedication that the others followed.