Numbers 7:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

The princes of Israel and the heads of the families, in every tribe, who were the rulers of them who had been numbered, offered
Douay-Rheims

וַיַּקְרִ֙יבוּ֙ נְשִׂיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רָאשֵׁ֖י בֵּ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם הֵ֚ם נְשִׂיאֵ֣י הַמַּטֹּ֔ת הֵ֥ם הָעֹמְדִ֖ים עַל־הַפְּקֻדִֽים׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Ephraem the Syrian

4th centuryChurch Father

The twelve leaders symbolize the spiritual authorities, while the oxen signify the apostles. Additionally, the twelve tribes that gave rise to the prophets and apostles serve as a representation of them. The six chariots denote the six nations where the message of Christ was proclaimed.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

2 Chr 35:8And his princes willingly offered what they had vowed, both to the people and to the priests and the Levites. Moreover Helcias, and Zacharias, and Jahiel rulers of the house of the Lord, gave to the priests to keep the phase two thousand six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen.
Num 1:4And there shall be with you the princes of the tribes, and of the houses in their kindreds,
Num 1:16These are the most noble princes of the multitude by their tribes and kindreds, and the chiefs of the army of Israel:
Num 2:1And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
Num 2:34And the children of Israel did according to all things that the Lord had commanded. They camped by their troops, and marched by the families and houses of their fathers.
Neh 7:70And some of the heads of the families gave unto the work. Athersatha gave into the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty bowls, and five hundred and thirty garments for priests.
Neh 7:72And that which the rest of the people gave, was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and sixty-seven garments for priests.
Num 10:1And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: