Num 7:10-11 | NETfull | STEP | The leaders offered gifts for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed. And the leaders presented their offering before the altar.

Numbers 7:10-11

The Time of Presentation

10 The leaders offered ^{▼▼ The verse begins with the preterite and vav (ו) consecutive: “and they offered.”} gifts ^{▼▼ The direct object, “gifts,” is implied but not actually stated in the Hebrew text. It has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarity.} for ^{▼▼ The sign of the accusative here must indicate an adverbial accusative and not the direct object; they offered their gifts for the dedication of the altar.} the dedication ^{▼▼ Some commentators take the word “dedication” in the sense of a dedication gift, and so make it the direct object. Many modern scholars assume that this is a late word, belonging only in P, the Chronicler, and the heading of Ps 30 (a Davidic psalm).} of the altar when it was anointed. ^{▼▼ The adverbial clause uses the Niphal infinitive construct as the main verb. The word is the well-known מָשַׁח (mashakh, “to anoint, smear”).} And the leaders presented ^{▼▼ Heb “offered,” but this is redundant and has been translated as “presented” for stylistic reasons. The same phrase occurs in vv. 11 and 12.} their offering before the altar. 11 For the Lord said to Moses, “They must present their offering, one leader for each day, ^{▼▼ The distributive sense is achieved by repetition: “one leader for the day, one leader for the day.”} for the dedication of the altar.”