Numbers 7:84-88

This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold:

This was the dedication of the altar. The inspired historian here sums up the separate items detailed in the preceding narrative, and the aggregate amount is as follows: 121 silver chargers, each weighing 130 shekels = 1,560; 12 silver bowls, each 70 shekels = 840, total weight. A silver charger at 130 shekels, reduced to Troy weight, makes 75 oz. 9 dwts. 16 3/31 gr.; and a silver bowl at 70 shekels amounts to 40 oz. 12 dwts. 21:21/31 gr. The total weight of the 12 chargers is therefore 905 oz. 16 dwts. 3 3/11 gr., and that of the 12 bowls 487 oz. 14 dwts. 20 4/31 gr.; making the total weight of silver vessels 1,393 oz. 10 dwts. 23 7/21 gr.; which, at 5s. per oz., is equal to 383, 1s. 8 1/2d. The twelve golden spoons, allowing each to be 5 oz. 16 dwts. 3 3/31 gr., amount to 69 oz. 3 dwts. 13 5/31 gr., which, at 4 per oz., is equal to 320, 14s. 10 1/2d., and added to the amount of the silver, makes a total of 703:16s. 6 1/2d. Besides these, the offerings comprised 12 bullock, 12 rams, 12 lambs, 24 goats, 60 rams, 60 he-goats, 60 lambs-amounting in all to 240.

So large a collection of cattle offered for sacrifice on one occasion proves both the large flocks of the Israelites and the abundance of pastures which were then, and still are, found in the valleys that lie between the Sinaitic mountains. All travelers attest the luxuriant verdure of those extensive wadys; and that they were equally or still more rich in pasturage anciently, is confirmed by the numerous flocks of the Amalekites, as well as of Nabal, which were fed in the wilderness of Paran (1 Samuel 15:9).