"7 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 chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers' houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached 3 and brought their offerings before the Lord, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, 5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in 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. 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. 9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder. "
Numbers 7:1-9
The offerings by the princes seem to have been a spontaneous act following upon the completion and anointing of the Tabernacle. It almost seems to be implied, from what is said in 45, that Moses awaited some indication as to whether their offering was in order (they had already been very generous in their offerings for the construction of the Tabernacle Exodus 35:27). On learning that their generosity had been prompted, in fact, by God, Moses received the gifts to be applied to the purposes of the Tabernacle, and delivered them over to the Levites in accordance with their respective duties. The distribution was not an equal one, but in line with their particular offices. The Gershonites received one third of the wagons for their duties (cf Numbers 4:2526), whereas the Merarites, who had much heavier burdens to bear (cf 4:31, 32) received two-thirds. The Kohathites received none, since their duties did not re- quire them (cf 4:115). Their place was to attend to the sanctuary, which was to be borne on their shoulders for which task they were provided with poles. That the offerings of the princes were generous to a degree is evident; that they were sufficient for divine purposes is just as clear, and this is some indication of how much the princes were under the inspiration and control of the Spirit of God in their large-hearted giving. With such a spirit, the work of God could not but prosper!