And the leaders of Israel, the heads of their families, presented an offering. These men were the tribal leaders who had supervised the registration.
Here is the offering of the princes to the service of the tabernacle. Observe, I. When it was; not till it was fully set up, Num 7:1. When all things were done both about the tabernacle itself, and the camp of Israel which surrounded it, according to the directions given, then they began their presents, probably about the eighth day of the second month.
Commenting on Numbers 7:1-9
That the princes of Israel,.... 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, Num 1:4, and were over them that...
the princes of Israel . . . brought their offering before the Lord--The finishing of the sacred edifice would, it may well be imagined, be hailed as an auspicious occasion, diffusing great joy and thankfulness throughout the whole population of Israel.