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.
Parallel Translations
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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.
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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.
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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.
Cross-references (11)
Passages linked to Numbers 7:89 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Hebrews 4:16 Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.
- Psalms 99:1 Yahweh reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned among the cherubim. Let the earth be moved.
- Exodus 33:9-11 When Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and Yahweh spoke with Moses. All the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, and all the people rose up and worshiped, everyone at their tent door. Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didn’t depart from the Tent.
- Exodus 25:18-22 You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold. You shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end. You shall make the cherubim on its two ends of one piece with the mercy seat. The cherubim shall spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I will give you. There I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the covenant, all that I command you for the children of Israel.
- Psalms 80:1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine out.
- Leviticus 1:1 Yahweh called to Moses, and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying,
- Numbers 1:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
- 1 Samuel 4:4 So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of Armies, who sits above the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
- 1 Kings 6:23 In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olive wood, each ten cubits high.
- 1 Peter 1:12 To them it was revealed, that they served not to themselves, but to you, in these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.
- Numbers 12:8 With him, I will speak mouth to mouth, even plainly, and not in riddles; and he shall see Yahweh’s form. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (13 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain That is, the Sanctuary.
That is, the Sanctuary.
According as he had promised, Exod. 25:22.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Into the tabernacle of the congregation; into which Moses,…
Into the tabernacle of the congregation; into which Moses, though no priest, was permitted to enter by God’s special license.
To speak with him, i.e. to consult God upon occasion.
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From off the mercy-seat, which Moses standing without the veil could easily hear. And this seems to be added in this place, to show that when men had done their part in the dedication of the tabernacle, altars, &c., God was not wanting in the performance of his part, and promise made, Exo 25:22.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain To speak with him - To consult God upon…
To speak with him - To consult God upon occasion. The mercy-seat - Which Moses standing without the veil could easily hear. And this seems to be added in this place, to shew that when men had done their part, God was not wanting in the performance of his part, and promise. God's speaking thus to Moses by an audible voice, as if he had been cloathed with a body, was an earnest of the incarnation of the Son of God, when in the fulness of time the Word should be made flesh, and speak in the language of the sons of men. That he who spake to Moses was the Eternal Word, was the belief of many of the ancients. For all God's communion with man is by his Son, who is the same yesterday, today and forever.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 89. To speak with him] To confer with…
Verse 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.
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The mercy-seat] See Clarke on Ex 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, 1Kg 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. Heb 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 Nu 9:4-5), when each family of the 600,000 males was obliged to provide one for itself.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Num 7:89. To speak with him — To consult…
Num 7:89. To speak with him — To consult God upon occasion. The voice of one speaking from off the mercy-seat — Which Moses, standing without the veil, could easily hear. And this seems to be added in this place to show that when men had done their part, God was not wanting in the performance of his part and promise. It also explains the manner how God communicated his will to Moses, not by some impression upon his mind in a vision, or by representing things to him in a dream; but by a clear and distinct voice, which he heard of one speaking to him from between the cherubim, though, at the same time, he saw no image or similitude. Thus we are to understand these expressions of God’s speaking from the mercy- seat, (Exo 25:22; Lev 1:1,) and his calling to particular persons, Num 12:4-5. And hence it is, that the most holy place, where the ark and mercy-seat were, whence the divine voice proceeded, is called Debir, the oracle, 1Ki 6:23. We may observe further here, that God’s speaking thus to Moses by an audible voice, as if he had been clothed with a body, was an earnest of the incarnation of the Son of God, when in the fulness of time the Word should be made flesh, and speak in the language of the sons of men. That he who spake to Moses was the Eternal Word, was the belief of many of the ancients. For all God’s communion with man is by his Son, who is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain With him - i. e. as marginal, “with God,”…
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.
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Thus was the promise of Exo 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.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Oracle of God, whose majesty appeared, in the form…
Oracle of God, whose majesty appeared, in the form of a bright cloud, upon the propitiatory, or mercy-seat. (Haydock) --- Moses is allowed to enter in quality of God’s messenger, to announce his will to the people; or perhaps he heard the mandates of God, standing without the veil. (Du Hamel)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of…
And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him--As a king gives private audience to his minister, so special license was granted to Moses, who, though not a priest, was admitted into the sanctuary to receive instructions from his heavenly King as occasion demanded.
then he heard the voice of one speaking to him--Though standing on the outer side of the veil, he could distinctly hear it, and the mention of this circumstance is important as the fulfilment, at the dedication of the tabernacle, of a special promise made by the Lord Christ Himself, the Angel of the Covenant, commanding its erection (Exo 25:22). It was the reward of Moses' zeal and obedience; and, in like manner, to all who love Him and keep His commandments He will manifest Himself (Joh 14:21).
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Next: Numbers Chapter 8
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 89. To speak with him — With Jehovah. “Whilst…
89. To speak with him — With Jehovah. “Whilst the tribe-princes had thus given to the altar the consecration of a sanctuary of their God, through their sacrificial gifts, Jehovah acknowledged it as his sanctuary by causing Moses, when he went into the tabernacle to speak to him and to present his own entreaties and those of the people, to hear the voice of Him that spake to him from between the two cherubim upon the ark of the covenant.” — Keil and Delitzsch. The voice of one speaking — This is a proof that Jehovah sometimes communicated his will by words addressed to the ear. “This voice from the inmost sanctuary to Moses, the representative of Israel, was Jehovah’s reply to the gladness and promptness with which the princes of Israel responded to him, and made the tabernacle, on their part, a place of holy meeting.” — Baumgarten. Hence the pertinence of this verse to the account of the dedicatory gifts.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 89. An isolated and mutilated fragment describing the intercourse…
89. An isolated and mutilated fragment describing the intercourse of God with Moses in the sanctuary, and relating the fulfilment of Exo_25:22. The words ‘with him’ imply that Jehovah has been mentioned previously in the original context of the passage. The verbs ‘went,’ ‘heard’ and ‘spake’ are not frequentative, describing what usually happened. It is a single incident, introducing some words of Jehovah which have been lost. They cannot be the commands in the following chapter, for in that case Num_7:1 would be a meaningless repetition.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of…
And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation. Rather, "the tent of meeting." Hebrew, ohel moed, where God had promised to meet with him. (Exo_25:22) To speak with him, i.e., with God, as implied in the word "meeting." He heard the voice of one speaking unto him. Rather, "he heard the voice conversing with him," making itself audible to him. rBeDmi, part. Hithpael, as in Eze_2:2. Here is a distinct statement of the supernatural fact that God spake to Moses with an audible human voice, and (no doubt) in the Hebrew language, from out the empty darkness behind the veil. In the fact, indeed, of God so speaking audibly there was nothing new, (see Gen_3:8 Gen_17:1, &c.); nor in the fact of his so speaking to Moses; (see Exo_3:4 and Exo_33:9) but this records the fulfillment of that promise which was part of God"s covenant with Israel, that he would at all times converse with Moses as their mediator from above the mercy-seat. (see on Exo_25:20-22, and cf. Deu_5:23-28) And he spake unto him, i.e., God spake unto Moses: the voice made itself audible, and by the voice God himself spake unto him. It is quite obvious that this statement more properly belongs to an earlier period, viz., to that immediately succeeding the consecration of the tabernacle. On the day it was set up Moses was not able to enter it, (Exo_40:35) but no doubt he did so very soon afterwards, and received from the mouth of the Lord, speaking in the holiest, all the commandments and ordinances recorded in Leviticus and in the beginning of this book. Perhaps the first communication made to him in this way concerned the offerings of the princes when first brought near (verses 4, 11), and for that reason the statement may have been appended to the record of those offerings.
Intercourse with God.
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The position of this verse, after verses 1-88, is significant. But the words refer not to a single occasion, but to a continued privilege. The promise (Exo_25:17-22) is now fulfilled, and Moses, as mediator, enjoys exceptional privileges even beyond the high priest, his brother. (cf. Lev_16:2 with text, and Num_12:6-8) We are reminded of a truth respecting all times of intercourse with God in prayer. When we speak to God, we ought to expect God to speak to us.
I THE SOUL INQUIRING. Our privilege (Heb_10:19-22) greater than that of Moses. Every place may be as "a tabernacle". (Gen_28:17 Joh_4:23) Yet good to have some special place, consecrated by hallowed associations. (Illus. 2Sa_7:18 Dan_6:10 Mat_6:6 Act_1:13) Then we go to "speak with" God, words which imply holy boldness and confidence. As Moses brought to God the burdens of his office and his own temptations and sins, so may we. (cf. Psa_27:5 Psa_73:16, 17 77:1 Heb_4:16 Jam_4:8)
II GOD RESPONDING. "Then," etc. perhaps sometimes even before Moses began to speak. So at times Isa_65:24 fulfilled. See Est_5:3. If we hear no voice from God at the first moment of approaching him, we ought not to be satisfied unless, while we are speaking to God, God speaks to us. (Psa_28:1 Psa_35:3 Psa_143:7, Psa_143:8) The response we desire and receive will be from the same spot as Moses" answer "from off the mercy-seat." To sinners, God in nature keeps silence: God on the throne of judgment is "a consuming fire;" God on the mercy-seat is "God in Christ," etc. (2Co_5:19) Such manifestations and voices of God are earnests of further answers, if not immediate, yet certain. (e. g. Mat_7:7 Mat_26:38-44 Act_10:3-6 2Co_12:8-10) P.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 he heard his voice speaking to him
he heard his voice speaking to him
Here "his voice" refers to Yahweh. AT: "he heard Yahweh speaking to him" (See: Synecdoche)
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from above the atonement lid ... from between the two cherubim
These two phrases describe the same location. (See: Parallelism)
ark of the testimony
See how you translated this phrase in Numbers 4:5.
He spoke to him
"Yahweh spoke to Moses"
translationWords
tent of meeting
Yahweh
voice
atonement lid
ark of the covenant
cherub
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 7:89 Once the Tabernacle had been dedicated and set…
7:89 Once the Tabernacle had been dedicated and set apart as holy, it was the center of divine revelation. There Moses spoke with God, God’s will was disclosed, and his presence came to rest (Lev 16:2, 13-17). Such communication emanated from the Ark of the Covenant between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover, also known as the “mercy seat” (cp. Exod 25:17-22). • For the Israelites, this was the special place associated with atonement, even as the Cross has assumed that significance in Christian faith (see Heb 9–10, especially Heb 9:5). God’s voice, as heard by Moses the mediator, fulfilled the expectation established by Exod 25:22 and Num 30:6. The Lord’s presence guaranteed the holiness of Israel’s wilderness sanctuary.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.