I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Numbers 7.

The leader of each tribe, except for the tribe of Levi, presented the same items for the dedication of the Tabernacle.  I had mentioned the other day the way in which the descendants of Joseph being divided into two tribes created a circumstance which foreshadows (in a way) Jesus and His twelve apostles.  This passage makes that more clear by showing how the leaders of the twelve tribes made their offerings.  I actually find it interesting that the Old Testament sometimes designates twelve tribes by the names of Jacob’s sons, which would include Levi, and at other times does not include the Tribe of Levi and counts Ephraim and Manasseh separately.  The former seems to be in situations where the listing is more ceremonial, while the latter appears most of the time when the writer is describing actual events involving the tribes (such as today’s passage).  It is passages such as today’s which make me see the relationship between the Levites and the rest of the tribes as a foreshadowing of Jesus and His apostles.