King James Version

What Does Numbers 7:59 Mean?

Numbers 7:59 in the King James Version says “And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the o...” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.”

Numbers 7:59 · KJV

Peace

Context

57

One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:

58

One kid of the goats for a sin offering:

59

And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

60

On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered:

61

His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an 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 meat offering:

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
For a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year—Gamaliel's shelamim concludes his offering with the covenant meal. The abundance (13 animals) invited extended fellowship—priests, offerer, and family shared the feast, celebrating reconciliation. The phrase this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur personalizes the prescribed pattern, uniting individual identity with corporate conformity.

Peace offerings created communal bonds—eating together ratified covenant relationship (Exodus 24:11). The NT equivalent appears in the Lord's Supper, where believers commune with Christ and each other through the bread and cup (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). The shelamim transformed worship from duty into joyful fellowship, anticipating the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern treaties were sealed with covenant meals, making peace offerings culturally recognizable as ratification ceremonies. The Sinai covenant itself concluded with elders eating before God (Exodus 24:9-11). These tabernacle dedication feasts (twelve consecutive days, one per tribe) reinforced Israel's covenant unity after the golden calf threatened national apostasy.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the peace offering as a shared meal between God, priests, and worshipers inform your understanding of the Lord's Supper as covenant fellowship?
  2. What does the transformation of sacrifice (burnt and sin offerings) into feasting (peace offerings) teach about worship's ultimate goal being joyful communion with God?
  3. In what ways might the extended, multi-day feasting in Numbers 7 challenge modern rushed or abbreviated approaches to corporate worship?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וּלְזֶ֣בַח1 of 17

“And for a sacrifice”

H2077

properly, a slaughter, i.e., the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)

הַשְּׁלָמִים֮2 of 17

“of peace offerings”

H8002

properly, requital, i.e., a (voluntary) sacrifice in thanks

בָּקָ֣ר3 of 17

“oxen”

H1241

a beeve or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd

שְׁנַיִם֒4 of 17

“two”

H8147

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

אֵילִ֤ם5 of 17

“rams”

H352

properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically an oak or other strong tree

חֲמִשָּׁ֑ה6 of 17

“five”

H2568

five

עַתֻּדִ֣ים7 of 17

“he goats”

H6260

prepared, i.e., full grown; spoken only (in plural) of he-goats, or (figuratively) leaders of the people

חֲמִשָּׁ֑ה8 of 17

“five”

H2568

five

כְּבָשִׂ֥ים9 of 17

“lambs”

H3532

a ram (just old enough to butt)

בֶּן10 of 17

“of the first”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

שָׁנָ֖ה11 of 17

“year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

חֲמִשָּׁ֑ה12 of 17

“five”

H2568

five

זֶ֛ה13 of 17
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

קָרְבַּ֥ן14 of 17

“this was the offering”

H7133

something brought near the altar, i.e., a sacrificial present

גַּמְלִיאֵ֖ל15 of 17

“of Gamaliel”

H1583

gamliel, an israelite

בֶּן16 of 17

“of the first”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

פְּדָהצֽוּר׃17 of 17

“of Pedahzur”

H6301

pedahtsur, an israelite

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Numbers 7:59 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

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