Numbers 7:89

Complete Jewish Bible

When Moshe went into the tent of meeting in order to speak with Adonai , he heard the voice speaking to him from above the ark-cover on the ark for the testimony, from between the two k'ruvim; and he spoke to him. Haftarah Naso: Shof'tim (Judges) 13:2–25 B'rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah Naso: Yochanan (John) 7:53–8:11; Acts 21:17–32

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
When Moshe went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard his voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two Keruvim: and he spoke to him.

King James Version
And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.

Lexham English Bible
And when Moses came to the tent of assembly to speak with him, he would hear the voice speaking to him from the atonement cover, which is on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, and he would speak to him.

New Century Version
When Moses went into the Meeting Tent to speak with the Lord , he heard the Lord speaking to him. The voice was coming from between the two gold creatures with wings that were above the lid of the Ark of the Agreement. In this way the Lord spoke with him.

New English Translation
Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord , he heard the voice speaking to him from above the atonement lid that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim. Thus he spoke to him.

Amplified Bible
Now when Moses went into the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat (the gold cover) that was on the ark of the Testimony from between the two cherubim; and He spoke [by special revelation] to him.

New American Standard Bible
Now when Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the atoning cover that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; so He spoke to him.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And when Moses went into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, to speake with God, he heard the voyce of one speaking vnto him from the Merciseat, that was vpon the Arke of the Testimonie betweene the two Cherubims, and he spake to him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, 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.

Contemporary English Version
Whenever Moses needed to talk with the Lord , he went into the sacred tent, where he heard the Lord 's voice coming from between the two winged creatures above the lid of the sacred chest.

Darby Translation
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.

Easy-to-Read Version
When Moses went into the Meeting Tent to speak to the Lord, he heard the Lord's voice speaking to him. The voice was coming from the area between the two Cherub angels on the mercy-cover on top of the Box of the Agreement. In this way the Lord spoke to Moses.

English Standard Version
And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord , 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; and it spoke to him.

George Lamsa Translation
And when Moses entered into the tabernacle of the congregation, he heard a voice speaking to him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and he spoke to him.

Good News Translation
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Christian Standard Bible®
When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, 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. He spoke to him that way.

Literal Translation
And when Moses went into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from the mercy-seat which is on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubs; and He spoke to him.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And whan Moses wente in to the Tabernacle of wytnes, yt he might be commoned withall, he herde the voyce speakynge vnto him fro of the Mercy seate, which was vpo the Arke of witnes betwixte the two Cherubins, from thence was he comoned withall.

American Standard Version
And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with him, then he heard the Voice speaking unto him from above the mercy-seat that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim: and he spake unto him.

Bible in Basic English
And when Moses went into the Tent of meeting to have talk with him, then the Voice came to his ears from over the cover which was on the ark of witness, from between the two winged ones. And he had talk with him.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when Moyses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregatio to speake with hym, he hearde the voyce of one speakyng vnto hym from of the mercie seate that was vpon the arke of witnesse betweene the two Cherubims, and he talked with hym.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And when Moses went into the tent of meeting that He might speak with him, then he heard the Voice speaking unto him from above the ark-cover that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and He spoke unto him.

King James Version (1611)
And when Moses was gone into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, to speake with him, then he heard the voyce of one speaking vnto him, from off the Mercie seat, that was vpon the Arke of Testimony from betweene the two Cherubims: and he spake vnto him.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
When Moses went into the tabernacle of witness to speak to God, then he heard the voice of the Lord speaking to him from off the mercy-seat, which is upon the ark of the testimony, between the two cherubs; and he spoke to him.

English Revised Version
And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with him, then he heard the Voice speaking unto him from above the mercy-seat that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim: and he spake unto him.

Berean Standard Bible
When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the mercy seat on the Ark of the Testimony. Thus the LORD spoke to him.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne Moyses entride in to the tabernacle of boond of pees, `to axe counsel `of Goddis answeryng place, he herde the vois of God spekynge to hym fro `the propiciatorie, which was on the arke of witnessyng, bitwixe twei cherubyns, fro whennus also God spak to Moises.

Young's Literal Translation
And in the going in of Moses unto the tent of meeting to speak with Him -- he doth even hear the voice speaking unto him from off the mercy-seat which [is] upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubs; and He speaketh unto him.

Update Bible Version
And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with him, then 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: and he spoke to him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when Moses had entered into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking to him from off the mercy-seat that [was] upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubim: and he spoke to him.

World English Bible
When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Yahweh, he heard his voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim: and he spoke to him.

New King James Version
Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him.

New Living Translation
Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the Lord , he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark's cover—the place of atonement—that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. The Lord spoke to him from there.

New Life Bible
Moses went into the meeting tent to speak with the Lord. And he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy-seat that was on the special box with the Law, between the two cherubim. So the Lord spoke to him.

New Revised Standard
When Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord , he would hear the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the covenant from between the two cherubim; thus it spoke to him.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And when Moses entered into the tent of meeting, that He might speak with him, then heard he the Voice speaking unto him from off the propitiatory that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, - so He spake unto him.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when Moses entered into the tabernacle of the covenant, to consult the oracle, he heard the voice of one speaking to him from the propitiatory, that is over the ark between the two cherubims, and from this place he spoke to him.

Revised Standard Version
And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.

THE MESSAGE
When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with God , he heard the Voice speaking to him from between the two angel-cherubim above the Atonement-Cover on the Chest of The Testimony. He spoke with him.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, 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.

Contextual Overview

¹⁰ The leaders brought the offering for dedicating the altar on the day it was anointed. The leaders brought their offering before the altar, ¹¹ and Adonai said to Moshe, "They are to present their offerings to dedicate the altar, each leader on his own day." ¹² (S: v) Nachshon the son of ‘Amminadav, from the tribe of Y'hudah, presented his offering on the first day. ¹³ He offered one silver dish weighing 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and one silver basin of seventy shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-and-three-quarters pounds], both full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering; ¹⁴ one gold pan of ten shekels [one-quarter pound], full of incense; ¹⁵ one young bull, one ram, one male lamb in its first year as a burnt offering, ¹⁶ one male goat as a sin offering, ¹⁷ and, for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nachshon the son of ‘Amminadav. ¹⁸ On the second day N'tan'el the son of Tzu‘ar, leader of Yissakhar, presented his offering. ¹⁹ He offered one silver dish weighing 130 shekels [three-and-a-quarter pounds] and one silver basin of seventy shekels (using the sanctuary shekel) [one-and-three-quarters pounds], both full of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering;

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

to speak: Numbers 12:8, Exodus 33:9-11

him: that is, God

he heard: Numbers 1:1, Exodus 25:22, Leviticus 1:1, Hebrews 4:16

two cherubims: Exodus 25:18-21, 1 Samuel 4:4, 1 Kings 6:23, Psalms 80:1, 1 Peter 1:12

Reciprocal: Numbers 8:1 - General Deuteronomy 12:5 - habitation 1 Kings 6:5 - oracle 1 Chronicles 13:6 - that dwelleth Romans 9:4 - and the glory Hebrews 9:5 - over

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation, to speak with him,.... With God, to consult him on some affair or another, or to learn whether he had anything else to communicate to him, to be delivered to the children of Israel; or whether he had any directions and instructions to give him about the presents and gifts of the princes, since this seems to be immediately after their offerings:

then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him; the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it, the voice of the Spirit; but rather the voice of the Shechinah, or Word of God, the eternal "Logos", is what was heard; who in the fulness of time was to be made flesh, and dwell among men, and be heard, and seen, and handled by them; for as for the voice of the Father, the was not heard at any time, John 5:37;

from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; upon the ark in which the law was, called the testimony, was the mercy seat; over that were placed two cherubim shadowing it, and between these was the seat of the divine Majesty, which he had now taken, and from hence the voice of him speaking, was heard; which, as it follows upon the presents and offerings of the princes, may be interpreted, of the divine approbation and acceptance of them, since it was promised by the Lord to Moses, that upon their building a tabernacle for him he would dwell in it; and upon the making a mercy seat with the cherubim over the ark, he would there meet with Moses, and commune with him; all which being done to his mind he fulfils his promise: though it seems that at this time Moses did not go into the most holy place, only into the tabernacle of the congregation, the outward sanctuary, the court of the tabernacle; and there he heard the voice, as Jarchi observes, coming out of the most holy place, and from the mercy seat there, which was so loud, clear, and distinct, as to be well heard and understood by him; he supposes the voice went out from heaven to between the two cherubim, and from thence to the tabernacle of the congregation: and he spake unto him; what he spoke is not said, unless it is what follows in the next chapter.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

With him - i. e. as marginal, “with God,” not (as some) with himself.

He heard the voice of one speaking - Rather, he heard the voice speaking, or conversing. The effect was as though Moses was audibly addressed by another person: how this effect was produced we are not told.

Thus was the promise of Exodus 25:20-22 fulfilled; and that as an immediate response on the part of God to the cheerful readiness with which the tribes had made their offerings, and supplied everything needful for the Holy place and its service. All being now complete as God had appointed, and the camp purified from defilements, God meets Moses the mediator of the people, not as before on the peak of Sinai far away, but in the midst of them, in the dwelling-place which He henceforth vouchsafed to tenant.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 7:89. To speak with him — To confer with God, and to receive farther discoveries of his will.

He heard the voice of one speaking unto him — Though Moses saw no similitude, but only heard a voice, yet he had the fullest proof of the presence as well as of the being of the Almighty. In this way God chose to manifest himself during that dispensation, till the fulness of the time came, in which the WORD was made flesh, and DWELT AMONG US. No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

The mercy-seat — Exodus 25:17; Exodus 25:17. As God gave oracular answers from this place, and spoke to Moses as it were face to face, hence the place was called the ORACLE, דביר debir, or speaking place, from דבר dabar, he spoke, 1 Kings 6:23. And as this mercy-seat represented our blessed Redeemer, so the apostle says that God, who had at sundry times, and in divers manners, SPOKEN in time past to the fathers by the prophets, hath, in these last days, SPOKEN unto us by his Son. Hebrews 1:1-2. Hence the incarnated Christ is the true דביר debir or oracle, in and by whom God speaks unto man.

On this occasion we find there were offered
12 silver chargers each weighing ...	130 shekels.
12 silver bowls, each .....	70 shekels.
Total amount of silver vessels ...	2,400 shekels.
12 golden spoons, each weighing ...	10 shekels.
Total amount of golden vessels ...	120 shekels.

	oz.	dwts.	gr.
A silver charger at 130 shekels, reduced to troy weight, makes ...	75	9	16 8/31
A silver bowl, at 70 shekels, amounts to ...	40	12	21 21/31
Total weight of the 12 chargers ...	905	16	3 3/31
Total weight of the 12 bowls ...	487	14	20 4/31
Total .....	1,393	10	23 7/31
Which, at 5s. per oz., is equal to ...	£348	7s.	9d.
	oz.	dwts.	gr.
The 12 golden spoons, allowing each to be ...	5	16	3 3/31
amount to .....	69	13	13 5/31
Which, at £4 per ounce, is equal to	£278	14s.	2 1/2 d.
And added to the amount of the silver ...	£348	7s.	9d.
make a total of ...	£627	1s.	11d.

Besides the above there were
Bullocks ...	12
Rams ...	12
Lambs ...	12
Goats ...	24
Rams ...	60
He-goats ...	60
Lambs ...	60
Total .....	240 clean beasts for sacrifice.

By which we may at once see that though the place in which they now sojourned was a wilderness, as to cities, villages, and regular inhabitants, yet there was plenty of pasturage, else the Israelites could not have furnished these cattle, with all the sacrifices necessary for different occasions, and especially for the passover, which was celebrated during their sojourning in the desert, and which itself must have required an immense number of lambs, (see Numbers 9:4-5), when each family of the 600,000 males was obliged to provide one for itself.