Numbers 7 After Moses finished setting up and dedicating the tabernacle with all of its furnishings and utensils,  the leaders of Israel.. the heads of each tribe brought an offering. They brought altogether 6 covered carts and 12 oxen to pull the carts.  The Lord told Moses to accept the offerings and to give them to the Levites "that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting.. "  Two carts  and 4 oxen were given to the Gershonites.. who were responsible for moving all of the tents etc.  4 carts and 8 oxen were given to the Merarites who carried all of the frames, pillars, etc.  The Gershonites did not get any carts or oxen for they carried the sacred objects that had to be carried on their shoulders.  ( Remember what happened when David tried to move the ark by cart?) 

Then the leaders offered dedication offerings.. each tribe offering the same thing:

A silver plate or platter weighing a little over 4 lbs. and a  silver bowl weighing about 2.18 lbs.  Both of these were filled with fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. 

Each offered one gold pan about 5 oz. filled with incense. 

Each offered a burnt offering consisting of one bull, one ram, and one male lamb one year old.

Each one gave a male goat for a sin offering.

Each one made a peace offering of 2 oxen, five rams, five male goats,  and five male lambs-1 year old.

For 12 days one tribe at a time offered their sacrifices.  The first day was the tribe of Judah and the man who was the leader at that time was Amminadab.. the great, great, great grandfather  of David. 

Altogether the silver uses was about 75 pounds and about 60 ounces of gold. There were 12 bulls, 12 rams, 12 one-year old lambs with their grain offerings; 12 male goats for the sin offerings.  Also the peace offerings were 12 bulls, 60 male goats, and 60 male lambs one year old.

This was all for the dedication of the altar.. and after that Moses entered the tent of meeting and spoke with the Lord.. and "he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony from between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him." 

Hebrews 9:18-22 tells us that Moses "took the blood of calves and the goats.. " and he sprinkled the book of the Law, the people and both "the tabernacle and all the vessels of ministry with blood." But verse 24 tells us " For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;"   He made a "new and living way" that we might enter through the veil into the holy place by His blood.  The writer tells us "let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for He who promised is faithful.. " ( Hebrews 10: 22-23) 

As perfectly planned and executed.. and incredible and amazing  the Holy tabernacle was for Israel.. it fell far short of the Perfect Lamb and High Priest.. Jesus Christ who came to lead us into the very Presence of the Holy One.  Praise the Lord, Oh my soul and all that is within me. Praise His Name.

 Father, help us to hold fast.. to cling to ... and to draw nearer and nearer to the Savior, we pray, in His Holy Name .  Amen.