וּלְזֶ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים֮ בָּקָ֣ר שְׁנַיִם֒ אֵילִ֤ם חֲמִשָּׁה֙ עַתֻּדִ֣ים חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה כְּבָשִׂ֥ים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָ֖ה חֲמִשָּׁ֑ה זֶ֛ה קָרְבַּ֥ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן׃
(Numbers 7:29)
And for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five lambs a year old—this was the offering of Eli’av son of Ḥelon.
Syntax as Sacred Inventory
Numbers 7 is among the most repetitive chapters in the Torah, cataloging identical offerings by each tribal leader during the dedication of the altar. Yet each entry is syntactically precise. Numbers 7:29 presents the peace offering of Eliʾav son of Ḥelon, structured through enumerative syntax, noun-numeral pairs, and a summative appositional clause. This grammatical format reflects the order and sacred intentionality of Israel’s liturgy.
Enumerative Syntax: Structuring the Offering
The phrase begins with a prepositional construction:
- וּלְזֶ֣בַח הַשְּׁלָמִים – “And for the sacrifice of peace offerings”
Each subsequent item in the list uses a noun-numeral structure, with the noun appearing first, followed by its quantity. This is the standard Hebrew order for countable objects:
- בָּקָ֣ר שְׁנַיִם – “oxen, two”
- אֵילִ֤ם חֲמִשָּׁה – “rams, five”
- עַתֻּדִ֣ים חֲמִשָּׁ֔ה – “male goats, five”
- כְּבָשִׂ֥ים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָ֖ה חֲמִשָּׁ֑ה – “lambs a year old, five”
This format is repeated precisely across all twelve tribal leaders, which helps preserve both liturgical rhythm and legal record-keeping.
Grammar Table: Offering Elements
| Animal | Hebrew Phrase | Quantity | Grammar Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxen | בָּקָר שְׁנַיִם | 2 | Noun + Masculine Dual |
| Rams | אֵילִם חֲמִשָּׁה | 5 | Noun + Masc. Plural Numeral |
| Male goats | עַתֻּדִים חֲמִשָּׁה | 5 | Noun + Masc. Plural Numeral |
| Lambs (1 year) | כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי־שָׁנָה חֲמִשָּׁה | 5 | Construct phrase + number |
Final Apposition: Naming the Donor
The phrase זֶ֛ה קָרְבַּ֥ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן provides a summative appositional closure:
- זֶה – “This” (demonstrative pronoun, subject)
- קָרְבַּ֥ן – “the offering”
- אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן – “of Eli’av son of Ḥelon”
This clause functions as both conclusion and identification. It highlights the individuality of the donor amid the repetition. Grammatically, it reaffirms authorship via construct chain + proper name.
Syntax as Devotion
The verse’s grammatical features reinforce its liturgical solemnity:
- Prepositional introduction signals offering type
- Enumerated noun–numeral pairs reflect precision and care
- Final apposition identifies the worshipper
In Levitical style, syntax becomes sanctified: every offering is a phrase, and every phrase a declaration of worship. Repetition is not redundancy—it is reverence through structure.