When this was spoken, says Bp. Patrick, is not certain. If Moses went into the tabernacle immediately after the princes had offered ("And when Mosesª was goneª° into¹ the tabernacleª of the congregationª to speakª° with¹ him, then he heardª°¹ the voiceª of one speakingª° unto¹ him from off¹¹ the mercy seatª that¹ [was] upon¹ the arkª of testimony,ª from between¹¹ the twoª cherubims:ª and he spakeª° unto¹ him." {Num 7:89}), it may be thought he then spake these things unto him; but both this and what follows, concerning the Levites, seem rather to have been delivered after the order for giving them to the priests, and appointing their several charges ("These¹ also [are] the generationsª of Aaronª and Mosesª in the dayª [that] the LORDª spakeª° with¹ Mosesª in mountª Sinai.ª" {Num 3:1} and "And the LORDª spakeª° unto¹ Mosesª and unto¹ Aaron,ª saying,ª°" {Num 4:1}). But some other things intervening, which depended upon what had been ordered respecting their camp, and that of the Israelites, Moses omits this until he had stated them, and some other matters which he had received from God. (See note on "And the LORDª saidª° unto¹ Moses,ª They shall offerª°¹ their offering,ª eachª princeª on his day,ª¹¹ for the dedicatingª of the altar.ª" {Num 7:11}.)