1 On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings, and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils,
2 the leaders of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, the leaders of the tribes, who were over those who were numbered,
3 offered and brought their offerings before YHVH, six covered wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the leaders, and for each one an ox; they offered them before the tabernacle.
5 "Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service."
6 So Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites.
Gershon means thrusting out or exile. He was the oldest son of Levi, the head of the tribe of Levi or the Levites (those designated as priests by YHVH). His name tells us that this is the consciousness of separation, when we first start on the spiritual path and we are full of zeal and may at first find ourselves isolated. Still a sojourner in a strange land, we are finding our way and have not yet found inner harmony.
7 Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service;
8 and four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron, the priest.
Merari means bitter and unhappy. Another son of Levi, Merari, represents the love nature when it is undeveloped and controlled by selfishness and ignorance. It is the result of love without wisdom. Gershon and Merari are of the Outer Court. The wagons and oxen were given to those without, for their responsibility was to transport the tabernacle. This is the "Outer" work, or preparation, having to do with the passions and emotions, represented by the oxen.
9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the care of the holy things which had to be carried on the shoulder.
Kohath, translated is assembly, convocation or one who obeys a call. Kohath was the second son of Levi. He represents the unifying, attracting power of Love.
Kohath was the Inner Court. He was to bear the sanctuary itself, a sacred burden which must be carried within and alone. This is the spiritual, inner work which must take place and is often referred to as the "building of the temple," the temple of the soul.
10 And the leaders offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed; and the leaders offered their offering before the altar.
11 And YHVH said to Moses, "They shall offer their offerings, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar."
These offerings of the altar represent the sacrifices which must be made by the Seeker, in order to build the altar within. The animals, i.e., the oxen, rams and goats, for the burnt offering relate to the sacrifices of or the denial of the lustful nature and negative emotions. This is the sacrifice of the heart. The offerings of flour mixed with oil relate to the sacrifices and the cleansing of the intellect or consciousness. This is the sacrifice of the mind. The incense in the golden spoons represents the sweet fragrance of the soul. This is the offering of the soul. Body, Mind and Soul: These are the offerings which all neophytes on the Path must make in order to seek and find the Truth. The silver chargers and golden spoons represent the balancing of the Masculine and Feminine, the Mind and Heart, the same meaning as the Holy Grail and the Sacred Spear. This balance or harmony is also required for success on the Path.
12 He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah;
13 and his offering was one silver plate whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering;
14 one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense;
15 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
16 one male goat for a sin offering;
17 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab.
The sacrifices made by Nahshon (Foreknowledge) symbolize the transmutation of all things that conflict with your conscious connection to the Divine. The plate of flour here symbolizes the current beliefs about the individual, God, and the Universe. The flour mixed with oil symbolizes the old subconscious tendencies that are not in accord with the Divine. The cereal offering represents balancing of the Masculine and Feminine ways of knowing (Intellect and Intuition). The dish full of incense symbolizes the soul reaching for the Divine. The bull and ram symbolize, respectively, the initial belief and the ideas in the mind that follow that way of thinking. Sacrificing them in a burnt offering symbolizes completely changing one’s way of thinking. The peace offerings symbolize those things that must be sacrificed in order to attain peace of mind. The two oxen symbolize the way of thinking that supports Materialism. The rams symbolize the consciousness that was raised up by this way of thinking. The Five male goats symbolize the stubbornness and refusal to change. The male lambs symbolize the beginning ideas of Materialism. Transmuting these things is what is required in order for Foreknowledge to become accurate.
18 On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, made an offering;
19 he offered for his offering one silver plate, whose weight was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a cereal offering;
20 one golden dish of ten shekels, full of incense;
21 one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;
22 one male goat for a sin offering;
23 and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.
The sacrifices made by Nathaneel (acknowledging that all things come from God) symbolize the lessening of the lower nature to make room for the Divine Nature within, through transmutation. The plate of flour here symbolizes the current beliefs about the individual, God, and the Universe. The flour mixed with oil symbolizes the old subconscious tendencies that are not in accord with the Divine. The cereal offering represents balancing of the Masculine and Feminine ways of knowing (Intellect and Intuition). The dish full of incense symbolizes the soul reaching for the Divine. The bull and ram symbolize, respectively, the initial belief and the ideas in the mind that are of the lower nature. Sacrificing them in a burnt offering symbolizes completely changing one’s way of thinking. The peace offerings symbolize those things that must be sacrificed in order to attain peace of mind. The two oxen symbolize the way of thinking that supports materialism. The rams symbolize the consciousness that was raised up by this way of thinking. The Five male goats symbolize the stubbornness and refusal to change. The male lambs symbolize the beginning ideas of the lower nature. Transmuting these things is what is required in order for Zeal to become more prominent, and raise your overall energy level.