Numbers 5-8: Dedication

The Israelites were beginning to see that God required perfection.  Uncleanness, impurity, unfaithfulness to God in any way would not be tolerated.  Those who wanted to be Nazarites, separated to the Lord, had strict rules they had to follow.  And now that the Tabernacle was to be dedicated, there were strict requirements for the offering from each tribe.  Each tribe was assigned a day on which their leader would bring the offering from the tribe to be dedicated, with the tribe of Judah going first.  Imagine what it must have been throughout the camp as each tribe prepared for their day of offering.  Did each tribe look for the choice young bull, the best ram and the most spotless male lamb as they approached their assigned day? Was it a matter of one-up-manship, tribe over tribe, or were they looking for the most perfect sacrifice for the most Holy God?  How excited were the people, on their assigned day, as they accompanied the representative from their tribe to the tabernacle, carrying the silver plates and bowls and all of the livestock that was to be presented?  Did Aaron bless each tribe with the blessing God had told him to say:

' "The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." '

Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV

Or did the people go about their daily task, as if nothing special was going on?  Did they rely on the Levites, who had been set apart and dedicated as priests, to bridge the gap between them and their God.  Were they busy sifting their grain, tending their sheep, making beds and playing ball when Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to hear the voice of the Lord, speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony?