John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. That the princes of Israel , etc.] The princes of the twelve tribes of Israel: heads of the house of their fathers ; of the each of the houses and families the tribes were divided into, and took their name from each of their ancestors, as is next explained: who were princes of the tribes ; the twelve tribes, as before observed, ( Numbers 1:4-16); and were over them that were numbered ; over the children of Israel that were numbered, ( Numbers 1:19-46); by which it that these princes are the very same persons that are mentioned by name there, as they are here afterwards; and were with Moses and Aaron, and assisting to them when they took the number of them; but according to the Targum of Jonathan, and Jarchi, these were appointed over them in Egypt; but the former is right: these now offered not sacrifices but gifts; they brought their presents to the Lord for the service of his sanctuary, and set them before him, as follows.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - The offering of the princes to the service of the tabernacle was no made till it was fully set up. Necessary observances must always tak place of free-will offerings. The more any are advanced, the greate opportunity they have of serving God and their generation. No soone was the tabernacle set up, than provision is made for the removal of it. Even when but just settled in the world, we must be preparing for changes and removes, especially for the great change.
Original Hebrew ויקריבו7126 נשׂיאי5387 ישׂראל3478 ראשׁי7218 בית1004 אבתם1 הם1992 נשׂיאי5387 המטת4294 הם1992 העמדים5975 על5921 הפקדים׃6485
