“The princes brought the dedication of the altar on the day that it was anointed, and the princes brought their offering before the altar” (Numbers 7:10). “The Lord said to Moses: One prince on each day, one prince on each day shall present their offering for the dedication of the altar” (Numbers 7:11). “The princes brought the dedication of the altar…” – this tells that just as the princes donated for the labor of the Tabernacle, so they donated for the dedication of the altar.
“The princes brought their offering…” – they came and stood before the altar, but Moses did not accept it from them until it was stated to him from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He: “Shall present their offering for the dedication of the altar.” Moses still did not know how they would present their offering, whether according to the journeys68This is a reference to the banners mentioned in Numbers, chapter 3. or according to their birth order, until it was stated to him from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He that they should bring their offering according to the journeys.
Still, Moses did not know how they would bring them; all of them together, or each and every one on his own day, until it was stated to him from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He that it would be each and every one on his own day, as it is stated: “One prince on each day.” But was it not princes who were donating and not common people; why, then, does the verse state: “One prince on each day”?
It is because Naḥshon was the king,69He was the prince of the tribe of Judah, the tribe from which kings would descend. and he brought first. So he would not say: Since I brought first, I will bring with each and every one on his day, that is why it is stated: “One prince on each day.” Some say that when the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “One prince on each day,” Moses said to the princes: ‘The Holy One blessed be He said to me that all of you will bring, but it was not stated to me who will bring first.’
They all directed their eyes to Naḥshon. ‘This one sanctified the name of the Holy One blessed be He at the sea, it is he who is worthy to cause the Divine Presence to descend, and he will bring the first of them all.’ So, he did. That is what is written: “The one who presented [his offering on the first day was Naḥshon son of Aminadav, of the tribe of Judah]” (Numbers 7:12).