Numbers 7:84-88 meaning

Now that the 12-day dedication ceremony was finished, it was time get the total of the dedication offering for the altar from the leaders of Israel (v. 84). These offerings for the altar were given when it was anointed (see Leviticus 8:11).

The totals of the offerings were as follows:

• Twelve silver dishes
• Twelve silver bowls
• Twelve gold pans
• The total amount of silver used for the dishes and bowls was based on each silver dish weighing one hundred and thirty shekels and each bowl seventy (v. 85). Given these numbers, all the silver of the utensils was 2,400 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
• Twelve gold pans (v. 86). All of them were full of incense, and each one weighed ten shekels apiece, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. Thus, the total of all the gold of the pans was 120 shekels, or a total of around 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) of gold.
• All the oxen for the burnt offering twelve bulls (v. 87)
• All the rams twelve
• The male lambs one year old with their grain offering twelve
• The male goats for a sin offering twelve
• All the oxen for the sacrifice of peace offerings 24 bulls (v. 88)
• All the rams 60
• Male goats 60
• Male lambs one year old 60

It is probable that the source of this large amount of silver and gold was the plundering of the Egyptians that had occurred just prior to Israel leaving Egypt (Exodus 12:35-36).