Numbers 7:42

KJV

On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, [offered]:

KJV (with Strong's)

On the sixth {H8345} day {H3117} Eliasaph {H460} the son {H1121} of Deuel {H1845}, prince {H5387} of the children {H1121} of Gad {H1410}, offered:

Complete Jewish Bible

On the sixth day was Elyasaf the son of De'u'el, leader of the descendants of Gad.

Berean Standard Bible

On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the Gadites, drew near.

American Standard Version

On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 7:42 meticulously records the offering presented by Eliasaph, son of Deuel, the prince of the tribe of Gad, on the sixth day of the Tabernacle's dedication. This verse is an integral part of a comprehensive account detailing the identical contributions made by each of Israel's tribal leaders, underscoring the nation's unified obedience and communal dedication to God's dwelling place in their midst. It highlights the structured order of worship and the significance of each tribe's participation in establishing the sacred space where God communed with His people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 7:42 is embedded within a lengthy, highly repetitive, and detailed section (Numbers 7:10-88) that chronicles the dedication offerings brought by the twelve tribal leaders for the newly consecrated Tabernacle. This chapter immediately follows the completion and anointing of the Tabernacle (Numbers 7:1) and the setting apart of the Levites for service (Numbers 8). Each day, for twelve consecutive days, a different tribal prince presented an identical set of offerings: a silver charger, a silver bowl, a golden spoon, animals for burnt offerings, a sin offering, and peace offerings. The repetition emphasizes the uniformity of devotion, the equality of access to God through prescribed worship, and the meticulous obedience required in establishing God's dwelling. Eliasaph's offering on the sixth day follows those of the tribes of Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Reuben, and Simeon, maintaining the divinely ordained sequence.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The dedication of the Tabernacle marked a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness journey. Having been delivered from Egypt and received the Law at Sinai, the construction of the Tabernacle (as detailed in [Exodus 25-40](/exodus/25 "Exodus 25-40 - Tabernacle Instructions and Construction")) provided a tangible symbol of God's presence among His people. This elaborate dedication ceremony, involving specific offerings from each tribal leader, was crucial for consecrating the sacred space and affirming Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh. The offerings themselves—burnt offerings for complete devotion, sin offerings for atonement, and peace offerings for fellowship—were central to Israelite worship and reflected their understanding of purification, reconciliation, and communion with a holy God. The role of a "prince" (נָשִׂיא, _nasi'_) was significant, indicating a leader or chief who represented his tribe in this communal act of worship, reinforcing the idea that the entire nation, through its representatives, was participating in this foundational act of dedication to God's dwelling.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Eliasaph (Hebrew, _'Elyasaph'_):** Meaning "God has added" or "God has gathered." This name is particularly fitting for a tribal leader whose role was to bring the collective offering of his people before God. It subtly points to God's active role in assembling and increasing His people, and their response of bringing their increase back to Him in worship. The name itself becomes a theological statement about divine provision and human response.
* **Deuel (Hebrew, _De'u'el'_):** Meaning "knowing God" or "knowledge of God." The father's name, alongside the son's, creates a poignant spiritual lineage. It suggests that the act of offering and leadership in worship stems from a foundational knowledge and relationship with God. This highlights the importance of personal and familial piety in the exercise of public religious duties within ancient Israel.
* **Gad (Hebrew, _Gad'_):** One of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob's son Gad. The name itself means "fortune" or "troop." The tribe of Gad was known for its martial prowess and settled east of the Jordan River. Their participation in this central act of worship, despite their future geographical separation, reinforced their unity with the other tribes and their shared identity as the people of God, gathered around His Tabernacle.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"On the sixth day":** This phrase establishes the precise chronological order of the dedication ceremony. It emphasizes the meticulous planning and execution of God's commands, highlighting the importance of order and sequence in sacred rituals. This daily progression underscores the sustained nature of their dedication and the equal opportunity for each tribe to participate.
* **"Eliasaph the son of Deuel":** This identifies the specific individual responsible for presenting the offering on this particular day. The inclusion of the patronymic ("son of Deuel") provides clear lineage and authority, ensuring that the record is precise and verifiable, emphasizing the importance of appointed leadership in communal worship.
* **"prince of the children of Gad":** This specifies Eliasaph's official role and the tribe he represents. As a "prince" (נָשִׂיא, _nasi'_), he was the recognized leader and representative of his entire tribe, meaning his offering was not merely personal but a corporate act on behalf of all the descendants of Gad. This highlights the communal aspect of Israelite worship and the representative nature of leadership.
* **"[offered]":** Though not explicitly stated in the KJV translation of this specific verse (indicated by brackets), the context of Numbers 7:10-88 makes it clear that Eliasaph, like the other princes, "offered" the standard set of dedication gifts. This implied action connects Numbers 7:42 directly to the detailed list of offerings found in Numbers 7:13-17, signifying the comprehensive nature of the tribal contributions to the Tabernacle's service.

#### Literary Devices
The overarching literary device employed throughout Numbers chapter 7, including Numbers 7:42, is **Repetition**. The identical listing of offerings for each of the twelve tribal princes, day after day, creates a deliberate and systematic pattern. This repetition serves several purposes: it emphasizes the uniformity and equality of the tribes' contributions, underscores the meticulous obedience required in following divine instructions, and highlights the comprehensive nature of the dedication. While seemingly monotonous, this literary choice reinforces the divine order and the collective unity of Israel in their worship. Additionally, there is an element of **Enumeration** or **Cataloging**, as the text systematically lists each prince and their day of offering, creating a detailed record that validates the completion of the Tabernacle's dedication according to God's precise commands.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 7:42, as part of the broader dedication narrative, powerfully illustrates several core theological themes. It underscores the divine demand for **order and obedience** in worship, demonstrating that God's presence among His people is contingent upon their faithful adherence to His prescribed ways. The communal nature of the offerings highlights the theme of **corporate responsibility and unity** in worship, where each tribe, through its representative, contributes to the sacred space that symbolizes God's dwelling. This collective act of giving also emphasizes the **significance of offerings** as tangible expressions of devotion, atonement, and fellowship, pointing to the necessity of sacrifice for communion with a holy God. Ultimately, the entire dedication process, including Eliasaph's offering, culminates in the affirmation of **God's dwelling presence** among His people, a central motif throughout the Pentateuch, signifying His covenant faithfulness and desire for intimate relationship.

* [Numbers 7:10](/numbers/7-10 "Numbers 7:10 - The Start of the Dedication Offerings")
* [Exodus 40:33](/exodus/40-33 "Exodus 40:33 - Completion of the Tabernacle")
* [Leviticus 1:1-9](/leviticus/1-1 "Leviticus 1:1-9 - Burnt Offering Regulations")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 7:42, though a seemingly simple record of an ancient offering, offers profound insights for contemporary believers. It reminds us that our worship, whether corporate or individual, should be marked by intentionality, order, and wholehearted dedication, reflecting the reverence due to God. Just as each tribe contributed to the Tabernacle, so too are we called to participate actively and generously in the life and mission of the church, recognizing that our collective efforts build up the body of Christ. The meticulous detail in Numbers 7 teaches us that God values faithfulness even in seemingly repetitive acts of obedience. Our daily walk, our consistent giving, and our regular participation in spiritual disciplines are not mundane but significant acts of worship when offered with a sincere heart. This verse challenges us to consider how we, as individuals and as a community, are dedicating our resources, time, and talents to God's purposes, ensuring that our lives are a continual offering of praise and service.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you called to demonstrate greater intentionality and order in your devotion to God?**
* **How does your participation in your faith community reflect a communal dedication to God's work, similar to the tribes' offerings?**
* **What resources (time, talents, finances) are you currently dedicating to God, and how can you grow in this area?**
* **How can you find significance and purpose in the seemingly "mundane" or repetitive aspects of your spiritual walk?**

### FAQ
**Why is so much detail given to each tribal offering in Numbers 7, even though they are all the same?**

Answer: The extensive detail and repetition in Numbers 7 serve several crucial purposes. First, it underscores the **meticulous obedience** required in Israel's covenant relationship with God. Every aspect of the Tabernacle's construction and dedication was divinely ordained, emphasizing God's holiness and the precision demanded in approaching Him. Second, the identical nature of the offerings highlights the **unity and equality** of the twelve tribes before God. Regardless of their size or prominence, each tribe had the same access to God through the prescribed means of worship and contributed equally to the Tabernacle's support. Third, the repetition provides a **legal and historical record**, validating that the dedication was completed exactly as commanded by God, leaving no doubt about the legitimacy of the Tabernacle as His dwelling place. Finally, it emphasizes the **completeness and comprehensiveness** of the nation's dedication, with every part of Israel participating in this foundational act of worship.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 7:42, and the entire dedication of the Tabernacle, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Tabernacle, as God's dwelling place among His people, was a temporary and symbolic structure, pointing forward to the true and eternal dwelling of God. Jesus is the ultimate "Tabernacle," for in Him "the Word became flesh and [dwelt among us](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Incarnation")," literally "tabernacled" among humanity. The meticulous offerings brought by the tribal princes, including Eliasaph, foreshadowed the one perfect and sufficient offering of Christ. Unlike the repeated sacrifices for sin in the Old Covenant, Jesus offered Himself "once for all" (as described in [Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ's Single Sacrifice")), providing complete and eternal atonement. The role of the tribal prince, representing his people, is perfectly fulfilled in Christ, our great High Priest, who represents us before God and intercedes on our behalf ([Hebrews 4:14-16](/hebrews/4-14 "Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus Our Great High Priest")). Through His sacrifice, we are not merely dedicating a physical structure, but are being built into a spiritual house, a "holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" ([1 Peter 2:5](/1_peter/2-5 "1 Peter 2:5 - Living Stones, Holy Priesthood")). Thus, Eliasaph's offering on the sixth day, a testament to Israel's obedience and dedication, ultimately points to the perfect obedience and self-offering of Christ, which inaugurated a new covenant of grace and a permanent, indwelling presence of God through the Holy Spirit.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.