71 And it came to pass on the day that Moses had completed the setting up of the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and hallowed it, and all the furniture thereof, and the altar and all its utensils, and had anointed them, and hallowed them, 2 that the princes of Israel, the heads of their fathers' houses, the princes of the tribes, they that were over them that had been numbered, offered; 3 and they brought their offering before Jehovah, six covered waggons, and twelve oxen; a waggon for two princes, and an ox for each; and they presented them before the tabernacle. 4 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 5 Take it of them, and they shall be for the performance of the service of the tent of meeting, and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to each according to his service. 6 And Moses took the waggons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. 7 Two waggons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service; 8 and four waggons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service,—under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9 But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none, for the service of the sanctuary was upon them: they bore [what they carried] upon the shoulder.
10 And the princes presented the dedication-gift of the altar on the day that it was anointed; and the princes presented their offering before the altar. 11 And Jehovah said to Moses, They shall present their offering for the dedication of the altar, each prince on his day. 12 And he that presented his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah. 13 And his offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl, of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation; 14 one cup of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense; 15 one young bullock, one ram, one yearling lamb, for a burnt-offering; 16 one buck of the goats for a sin-offering; 17 and for a sacrifice of peace-offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 18 On the second day offered Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar; 19 he presented his offering; one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour, mingled with oil for an oblation; 20 one cup of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense; 21 one young bullock, one ram, one yearling lamb, for a burnt-offering; 22 one buck of the goats for a sin-offering; 23 and for a sacrifice of peace-offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 24 On the third day, the prince of the children of Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon: 25 his offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation; 26 one cup of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense; 27 one young bullock, one ram, one yearling lamb, for a burnt-offering; 28 one buck of the goats for a sin-offering; 29 and for a sacrifice of peace-offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon. 30 On the fourth day, the prince of the children of Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur. 31 His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation; 32 one cup of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense; 33 one young bullock, one ram, one yearling lamb, for a burnt-offering; 34 one buck of the goats for a sin-offering; 35 and for a sacrifice of peace-offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Elizur, the son of Shedeur. 36 On the fifth day, the prince of the children of Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 37 His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation; 38 one cup of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense; 39 one young bullock, one ram, one yearling lamb, for a burnt-offering; 40 one buck of the goats for a sin-offering; 41 and for a sacrifice of peace-offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 42 On the sixth day, the prince of the children of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 43 His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation; 44 one cup of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense; 45 one young bullock, one ram, one yearling lamb, for a burnt-offering; 46 one buck of the goats for a sin-offering; 47 and for a sacrifice of peace-offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 48 On the seventh day, the prince of the children of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud. 49 His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation; 50 one cup of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense; 51 one young bullock, one ram, one yearling lamb, for a burnt-offering; 52 one buck of the goats for a sin-offering; 53 and for a sacrifice of peace-offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud. 54 On the eighth day, the prince of the children of Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 55 His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation; 56 one cup of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense; 57 one young bullock, one ram, one yearling lamb, for a burnt-offering; 58 one buck of the goats for a sin-offering; 59 and for a sacrifice of peace-offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 60 On the ninth day, the prince of the children of Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni. 61 His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation; 62 one cup of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense; 63 one young bullock, one ram, one yearling lamb, for a burnt-offering; 64 one buck of the goats for a sin-offering; 65 and for a sacrifice of peace-offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni. 66 On the tenth day, the prince of the children of Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 67 His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation; 68 one cup of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense; 69 one young bullock, one ram, one yearling lamb, for a burnt-offering; 70 one buck of the goats for a sin-offering; 71 and for a sacrifice of peace-offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 72 On the eleventh day, the prince of the children of Asher, Pagiel the son of Ocran. 73 His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation; 74 one cup of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense; 75 one young bullock, one ram, one yearling lamb, for a burnt-offering; 76 one buck of the goats for a sin-offering; 77 and for a sacrifice of peace-offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran. 78 On the twelfth day, the prince of the children of Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan. 79 His offering was one silver dish of the weight of a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for an oblation; 80 one cup of ten [shekels] of gold, full of incense; 81 one young bullock, one ram, one yearling lamb, for a burnt-offering; 82 one buck of the goats for a sin-offering; 83 and for a sacrifice of peace-offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan. 84 This was the dedication-gift of the altar, on the day when it was anointed, from the princes of Israel: twelve silver dishes, twelve silver bowls, twelve cups of gold: 85 each silver dish of a hundred and thirty [shekels], and each bowl seventy: all the silver of the vessels was two thousand four hundred [shekels] according to the shekel of the sanctuary; 86 twelve golden cups full of incense, each cup of ten [shekels], according to the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the cups, a hundred and twenty [shekels]. 87 All the cattle for the burnt-offering was: twelve bullocks, twelve rams, twelve yearling lambs and their oblation; and twelve bucks of the goats for a sin-offering. 88 And all the cattle for the sacrifice of the peace-offering was: twenty-four bullocks, sixty rams, sixty he-goats, sixty yearling lambs. This was the dedication-gift of the altar, after it had been anointed. 89 And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, then he heard the voice speaking to him from off the mercy-seat which was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubim; and he spoke to Him.
81 And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying, 2 Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. 3 And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as Jehovah had commanded Moses. 4 And this was the work of the candlestick: [it was] of beaten gold; from its base to its flowers was it beaten work; according to the form which Jehovah had shewn Moses, so had he made the candlestick.
5 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 6 Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. 7 And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: sprinkle upon them water of purification from sin; and they shall pass the razor over all their flesh, and shall wash their garments, and make themselves clean. 8 And they shall take a young bullock and its oblation of fine flour mingled with oil; and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin-offering. 9 And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tent of meeting; and thou shalt gather together the whole assembly of the children of Israel. 10 And thou shalt bring the Levites before Jehovah; and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites. 11 And Aaron shall offer the Levites as a wave-offering before Jehovah from the children of Israel, and they shall perform the service of Jehovah. 12 And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks, and thou shalt offer the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, to Jehovah, to make atonement for the Levites. 13 And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them as a wave-offering to Jehovah. 14 And thou shalt separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, that the Levites may be mine. 15 And afterwards shall the Levites come in to do the service of the tent of meeting. And thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them as a wave-offering. 16 For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of every one that breaketh open the womb, instead of every firstborn among the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me. 17 For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are mine, both of man and beast; on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I hallowed them to myself. 18 And I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel. 19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons, from among the children of Israel, to perform the service of the children of Israel in the tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel; that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel draw near to the sanctuary. 20 And Moses and Aaron, and all the assembly of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according to all that Jehovah had commanded Moses concerning the Levites: so did the children of Israel to them. 21 And the Levites purified themselves from sin, and they washed their garments; and Aaron offered them as a wave-offering before Jehovah; and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them. 22 And afterwards the Levites came in to perform their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron, and before his sons; as Jehovah had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they to them. 23 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 24 This is that which concerneth the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward shall he come to labour in the work of the service of the tent of meeting. 25 And from fifty years old he shall retire from the labour of the service, and shall serve no more; 26 but he shall minister with his brethren in the tent of meeting, and keep the charge, but he shall not serve [in] the service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites with regard to their charges.
21 And he said to them, Does the lamp come that it should be put under the bushel or under the couch? [Is it] not that it should be set upon the lamp-stand? 22 For there is nothing hidden which shall not be made manifest; nor does any secret thing take place, but that it should come to light. 23 If any one have ears to hear, let him hear. 24 And he said to them, Take heed what ye hear; with what measure ye mete, it shall be meted to you; and there shall be [more] added to you. 25 For whosoever has, to him shall be given; and he who has not, even what he has shall be taken from him.
26 And he said, Thus is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast the seed upon the earth, 27 and should sleep and rise up night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth bears fruit of itself, first [the] blade, then an ear, then full corn in the ear. 29 But when the fruit is produced, immediately he sends the sickle, for the harvest is come.
30 And he said, How should we liken the kingdom of God, or with what comparison should we compare it? 31 As to a grain of mustard [seed], which, when it is sown upon the earth, is less than all seeds which are upon the earth, 32 and when it has been sown, mounts up and becomes greater than all herbs, and produces great branches, so that the birds of heaven can roost under its shadow.
33 And with many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear, 34 but without a parable spoke he not to them; and in private he explained all things to his disciples.
35 And on that day, when evening was come, he says to them, Let us go over to the other side: 36 and having sent away the crowd, they take him with [them], as he was, in the ship. But other ships also were with him. 37 And there comes a violent gust of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it already filled. 38 And he was in the stern sleeping on the cushion. And they awake him up and say to him, Teacher, dost thou not care that we are perishing? 39 And awaking up he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Silence; be mute. And the wind fell, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said to them, Why are ye [thus] fearful? how [is it] ye have not faith? 41 And they feared [with] great fear, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
(Read Mark 4:21-34)
These declarations were intended to call the attention of the disciples to the word of Christ. By his thus instructing them, they were made able to instruct others; as candles are lighted, not to be covered, but to be placed on a candlestick, that they may give light to a room. This parable of the good seed, shows the manner in which the kingdom of God makes progress in the world. Let but the word of Christ have the place it ought to have in a soul, and it will show itself in a good conversation. It grows gradually: first the blade; then the ear; after that the full corn in the ear. When it is sprung up, it will go forward. The work of grace in the soul is, at first, but the day of small things; yet it has mighty products even now, while it is in its growth; but what will there be when it is perfected in heaven!
(Read Mark 4:35-41)
Christ was asleep in the storm, to try the faith of his disciples, and to stir them up to pray. Their faith appeared weak, and their prayers strong. When our wicked hearts are like the troubled sea which cannot rest, when our passions are unruly, let us think we hear the law of Christ, saying, Be silent, be dumb. When without are fightings, and within are fears, and the spirits are in a tumult, if he say, "Peace, be still," there is a great calm at once. Why are ye so fearful? Though there may be cause for some fear, yet not for such fear as this. Those may suspect their faith, who can have such a thought as that Jesus careth not though his people perish. How imperfect are the best of saints! Faith and fear take their turns while we are in this world; but ere long, fear will be overcome, and faith will be lost in sight.
