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 Elishama the son of Ammihud.

NUMBERS 7:53KJV
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Numbers 7:53 (KJV)

What does Numbers 7:53 mean?

Numbers 7:53 records the specific animals that Elishama, son of Ammihud, brought as his offering for the peace sacrifice: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five year-old lambs. This verse lists the details of Elishama’s contribution as part of a larger ceremony where each tribal leader brought offerings for the dedication of the altar.

Elishama was the leader of the tribe of Ephraim, and his offering is described as part of a sequence where each tribal chief brought nearly identical gifts on different days. The context is the dedication of the altar after the tabernacle was set up in the wilderness, and these offerings were a way for each tribe to participate in the worship and dedication of Israel’s central place of worship.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 7:53

  • The word for “peace offerings” is שְׁלָמִים (shelamim), which refers to offerings meant to express fellowship, thanksgiving, or well-being. This highlights that the sacrifice was about relationship and gratitude, not just ritual.
  • The word for “offering” is קָרְבָּן (qorban), which means something brought near or presented. This word emphasizes that the act was about drawing near to God, not just giving something up.
  • The phrase “lambs of the first year” uses בֶּן־שָׁנָה (ben-shanah), meaning a lamb in its first year of life. This detail points to the requirement for offerings to be young and without blemish, showing care in what was given.

Why Numbers 7:53 matters

  • This verse shows that every tribe, through its leader, was given equal opportunity to participate in the dedication of the altar, reinforcing the unity and shared responsibility of the Israelite community.
  • The careful listing of each animal and the repetition across the chapter underline the importance of order, obedience, and attention to God’s instructions in worship.
  • Seeing the specific animals and numbers helps modern readers understand the scale and seriousness of the offerings, and how worship in ancient Israel involved both community and costly, tangible gifts.

Where else these words appear

“Ammihud” Hebrew H5989 · used in 10 verses

  • Numbers 1:10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
  • Numbers 10:22 And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud.
  • 2 Samuel 13:37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

“Elishama” Hebrew H476 · used in 17 verses

  • Numbers 1:10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
  • 2 Kings 25:25 But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah.
  • 1 Chronicles 14:7 And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.

“goats” Hebrew H6260 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 31:10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.
  • Numbers 7:65 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 Abidan the son of Gideoni.
  • Proverbs 27:26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

“offering” Hebrew H7133 · used in 78 verses

  • Leviticus 1:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
  • Leviticus 7:16 But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:
  • Numbers 7:37 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: