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Numbers 17:1-13 King James Version (KJV)

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.

3 And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.

4 And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.

5 And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.

6 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

7 And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

9 And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.

10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

11 And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.

12 And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.

13 Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?

Numbers 17:1-13 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559

2 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and take H3947 of every one of them a rod H4294 H4294 according to the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 of all their princes H5387 according to the house H1004 of their fathers H1 twelve H8147 H6240 rods: H4294 write H3789 thou every man's H376 name H8034 upon his rod. H4294

3 And thou shalt write H3789 Aaron's H175 name H8034 upon the rod H4294 of Levi: H3878 for one H259 rod H4294 shall be for the head H7218 of the house H1004 of their fathers. H1

4 And thou shalt lay them up H3240 in the tabernacle H168 of the congregation H4150 before H6440 the testimony, H5715 where I will meet H3259 with you.

5 And it shall come to pass, that the man's H376 rod, H4294 whom I shall choose, H977 shall blossom: H6524 and I will make to cease H7918 from me the murmurings H8519 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 whereby they murmur H3885 against you.

6 And Moses H4872 spake H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and every one of their princes H5387 gave H5414 him a rod H4294 H4294 apiece, for each prince H5387 H5387 one, H259 H259 according to their fathers' H1 houses, H1004 even twelve H6240 H8147 rods: H4294 and the rod H4294 of Aaron H175 was among H8432 their rods. H4294

7 And Moses H4872 laid up H3240 the rods H4294 before H6440 the LORD H3068 in the tabernacle H168 of witness. H5715

8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow H4283 Moses H4872 went H935 into the tabernacle H168 of witness; H5715 and, behold, the rod H4294 of Aaron H175 for the house H1004 of Levi H3878 was budded, H6524 and brought forth H3318 buds, H6525 and bloomed H6692 blossoms, H6731 and yielded H1580 almonds. H8247

9 And Moses H4872 brought out H3318 all the rods H4294 from before H6440 the LORD H3068 unto all the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 and they looked, H7200 and took H3947 every man H376 his rod. H4294

10 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Bring H7725 Aaron's H175 rod H4294 again H7725 before H6440 the testimony, H5715 to be kept H4931 for a token H226 against the rebels; H4805 H1121 and thou shalt quite take away H3615 their murmurings H8519 from me, that they die H4191 not.

11 And Moses H4872 did H6213 so: as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 him, so did H6213 he.

12 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 spake H559 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559 Behold, we die, H1478 we perish, H6 we all perish. H6

13 Whosoever cometh any thing near H7131 unto the tabernacle H4908 of the LORD H3068 shall die: H4191 shall we be consumed H8552 with dying? H1478

Numbers 17:1-13 American Standard (ASV)

1 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers' house, of all their princes according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.

3 And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers' houses.

4 And thou shalt lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.

5 And it shall come to pass, that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you.

6 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

7 And Moses laid up the rods before Jehovah in the tent of the testimony.

8 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and produced blossoms, and bare ripe almonds.

9 And Moses brought out all the rods from before Jehovah unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.

10 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that thou mayest make an end of their murmurings against me, that they die not.

11 Thus did Moses: as Jehovah commanded him, so did he.

12 And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone.

13 Every one that cometh near, that cometh near unto the tabernacle of Jehovah, dieth: shall we perish all of us?

Numbers 17:1-13 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,

2 `Speak unto the sons of Israel, and take from them each a rod, for a father's house, from all their princes, for the house of their fathers, twelve rods; the name of each thou dost write on his rod,

3 and Aaron's name thou dost write on the tribe of Levi; for one rod `is' for the head of their fathers' house:

4 and thou hast placed them in the tent of meeting, before the testimony, where I meet with you.

5 `And it hath come to pass, the man's rod on whom I fix doth flourish, and I have caused to cease from off me the murmurings of the sons of Israel, which they are murmuring against you.'

6 And Moses speaketh unto the sons of Israel, and all their princes give unto him one rod for a prince, one rod for a prince, for their fathers' house, twelve rods, and the rod of Aaron `is' in the midst of their rods;

7 and Moses placeth the rods before Jehovah, in the tent of the testimony.

8 And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that Moses goeth in unto the tent of the testimony, and lo, the rod of Aaron hath flourished for the house of Levi, and is bringing out flourishing, and doth blossom blossoms, and doth produce almonds;

9 and Moses bringeth out all the rods from before Jehovah, unto all the sons of Israel, and they look, and take each his rod.

10 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Put back the rod of Aaron, before the testimony, for a charge, for a sign to the sons of rebellion, and thou dost remove their murmurings from off me, and they do not die;'

11 and Moses doth as Jehovah hath commanded him; so he hath done.

12 And the sons of Israel speak unto Moses, saying, `Lo, we have expired; we have perished; we have all of us perished;

13 any who is at all drawing near unto the tabernacle of Jehovah dieth; have we not been consumed -- to expire?'

Numbers 17:1-13 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of them a staff, a staff for each father's house, of all their princes according to the houses of their fathers, twelve staves: thou shalt write each one's name upon his staff.

3 And Aaron's name shalt thou write upon the staff of Levi; for one staff shall be for [each] head of their fathers' houses.

4 And thou shalt lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.

5 And it shall come to pass, that the man whom I shall choose, his staff shall bud forth; and I will make to cease from before me the murmurings of the children of Israel, that they murmur against you.

6 And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and all their princes gave him a staff, one staff for each prince according to their fathers' houses, twelve staves, and the staff of Aaron was among their staves.

7 And Moses laid the staves before Jehovah in the tent of the testimony.

8 And it came to pass, when on the morrow Moses went into the tent of the testimony, behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and ripened almonds.

9 And Moses brought out all the staves from before Jehovah to all the children of Israel, and they looked and took each one his staff.

10 And Jehovah said to Moses, Bring Aaron's staff again before the testimony, to be kept as a token for the sons of rebellion, that thou mayest put an end to their murmurings before me, that they may not die.

11 And Moses did so: as Jehovah had commanded him, so did he.

12 And the children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, Lo, we expire, we perish, we all perish.

13 Every one that comes at all near to the tabernacle of Jehovah shall die: shall we then expire altogether?

Numbers 17:1-13 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2 Speak to the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers' house, of all their princes according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods: write you every man's name on his rod.

3 You shall write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers' houses.

4 You shall lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.

5 It shall happen, that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you.

6 Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

7 Moses laid up the rods before Yahweh in the tent of the testimony.

8 It happened on the next day, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds.

9 Moses brought out all the rods from before Yahweh to all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.

10 Yahweh said to Moses, Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that you may make an end of their murmurings against me, that they not die.

11 Thus did Moses: as Yahweh commanded him, so did he.

12 The children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone.

13 Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tent of Yahweh, dies: shall we perish all of us?

Numbers 17:1-13 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And the Lord said to Moses,

2 Say to the children of Israel that they are to give you rods, one for every family, for every chief, the head of his father's house, making twelve rods; let every man's name be placed on his rod.

3 And let Aaron's name be placed on the rod of Levi: for there is to be one rod for the head of every family.

4 And let them be stored up in the Tent of meeting, in front of the ark of witness where I come to you.

5 And the rod of that man who is marked out by me for myself will have buds on it; so I will put a stop to the outcries which the children of Israel make to me against you.

6 So Moses gave these orders to the children of Israel, and all their chiefs gave him rods, one for the head of every family, making twelve rods: and Aaron's rod was among them.

7 And Moses put the rods before the Lord in the Tent of witness.

8 Now on the day after, Moses went into the Tent of witness; and he saw that Aaron's rod, the rod of the house of Levi, had put out buds, and was covered with buds and flowers and fruit.

9 Then Moses took out all the rods from before the Lord, and gave them back to the children of Israel: and they saw them, and every man took his rod.

10 And the Lord said to Moses, Put Aaron's rod back in front of the ark of witness, to be kept for a sign against this false-hearted people, so that you may put a stop to their outcries against me, and death may not overtake them.

11 This Moses did: as the Lord gave orders, so he did.

12 And the children of Israel said to Moses, Truly, destruction has come on us; an evil fate has overtaken us all.

13 Death will overtake everyone who comes near, who comes near the House of the Lord: are we all to come to destruction?

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Numbers 17

Commentary on Numbers 17 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 17

Enough had been done in the chapter before to quash all pretensions of the families of the tribe of Levi that would set up in competition with Aaron, and to make it appear that Aaron was the head of the tribe; but it seems, when that matter was settled, the princes of the rest of the tribes began to murmur. If the head of a tribe must be a priest, why not the head of some other tribe than that of Levi? He that searches the heart knew this thought to be in the breast of some of them, and before it broke out into any overt act graciously anticipated it, to prevent bloodshed; and it is done by miracle in this chapter, not a miracle of wrath, as before, but of grace.

  • I. The matter is put upon trial by the bringing of twelve rods, one for each prince, before the Lord (v. 1-7).
  • II. Upon trial, the matter is determined by the miraculous blossoming of Aaron's rod (v. 8, 9).
  • III. The decision of the controversy is registered by the preservation of the rod (v. 10, 11).
  • IV. The people acquiesce in it with some reluctance (v. 12, 13).

Num 17:1-7

Here we have,

  • I. Orders given for the bringing in of a rod for every tribe (which was peculiarly significant, for the word here used for a rod sometimes signifies a tribe, as particularly ch. 34:13), that God by a miracle, wrought on purpose, might make it known on whom he had conferred the honour of the priesthood.
    • 1. It seems then the priesthood was a preferment worth seeking and striving for, even by the princes of the tribes. It is an honour to the greatest of men to be employed in the service of God. Yet perhaps these contended for it rather for the sake of the profit and power that attended the office than for the sake of that in it which was divine and sacred.
    • 2. It seems likewise, after all that had been done to settle this matter, there were those who would be ready upon any occasion to contest it. They would not acquiesce in the divine appointment, but would make an interest in opposition to it. They strive with God for the dominion; and the question is whose will shall stand. God will rule, but Israel will not be ruled; and this is the quarrel.
    • 3. It is an instance of the grace of God that, having wrought divers miracles to punish sin, he would work one more on purpose to prevent it. God has effectually provided that the obstinate shall be left inexcusable, and every mouth shall be stopped. Israel were very prone to murmur both against God and against their governors. "Now,' said God, "I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, v. 5. If any thing will convince them, they shall be convinced; and, if this will not convince them, nothing will.' This was to be to them, as Christ said the sign of the prophet Jonas (that is, his own resurrection) should be to the men of that generation, the highest proof of his mission that should be given them. The directions are,
      • (1.) That twelve rods or staves should be brought in. It is probable that they were not now fresh cut out of a tree, for then the miracle would not have been so great; but that they were the staves which the princes ordinarily used as ensigns of their authority (of which we read ch. 21:18), old dry staves, that had no sap in them, and it is probable that they were all made of the almond-tree. It should seem they were but twelve in all, with Aaron's, for, when Levi comes into the account, Ephraim and Manasseh make but one, under the name of Joseph.
      • (2.) That the name of each prince should be written upon his rod, that every man might know his own, and to prevent contests. Writing is often a good preservative against strife, for what is written may be appealed to.
      • (3.) That they should be laid up in the tabernacle, for one night, before the testimony, that is, before the ark, which, with its mercy seat, was a symbol, token, or testimony, of God's presence with them.
      • (4.) They were to expect, being told it before, that the rod of the tribe, or prince, whom God chose to the priesthood, should bud and blossom, v. 5. It was requisite that they should be told of it, that it might appear not to be casual, but according to the counsel and will of God.
  • II. The preparing of the rods accordingly. The princes brought them in, some of them perhaps fondly expecting that the choice would fall upon them, and all of them thinking it honour enough to be competitors with Aaron, and to stand candidates, even for the priesthood (v. 7); and Moses laid them up before the Lord. He did not object that the matter was sufficiently settled already, and enough done to convince those that were not invincibly hardened in their prejudices. He did not undertake to determine the controversy himself, though it might easily have been done; nor did he suggest that it would be to no purpose to offer satisfaction to a people that were willingly blind. But, since God will have it so, he did his part, and lodged the case before the Lord, to whom the appeal was made by consent, and left it with him.

Num 17:8-13

Here is,

  • I. The final determination of the controversy concerning the priesthood by a miracle, v. 8, 9. The rods or staves were brought out from the most holy place where they were laid up, and publicly produced before the people; and, while all the rest of the rods remained as they were, Aaron's rod only, of a dry stick, became a living branch, budded, and blossomed, and yielded almonds. In some places there were buds, in others blossoms, in others fruit, at the same time. This was miraculous, and took away all suspicion of a fraud, as if in the night Moses had taken away Aaron's rod, and put a living branch of an almond tree in the room of it; for no ordinary branch would have buds, blossoms, and fruits upon it, all at once. Now,
    • 1. This was a plain indication to the people that Aaron was chosen to the priesthood, and not any other of the princes of the tribes. Thus he was distinguished from them and manifested to be under the special blessing of heaven, which sometimes yields increase where there is neither planting nor watering by the hand of man. Bishop Hall here observes that fruitfulness is the best evidence of a divine call, and that the plants of God's setting, and the boughs cut off from them, will flourish. See Ps. 92:12-14. The trees of the Lord, though they seem dry trees, are full of sap.
    • 2. It was a very proper sign to represent the priesthood itself, which was hereby confirmed to Aaron.
      • (1.) That it should be fruitful and serviceable to the church of God. It produced not only blossoms, but almonds; for the priesthood was designed, not only for an honour to Aaron, but for a blessing to Israel. Thus Christ ordained his apostles and ministers that they should go and bring forth fruit, and that their fruit should remain, Jn. 15:16.
      • (2.) That there should be a succession of priests. Here were not only almonds for the present, but buds and blossoms promising more hereafter. Thus has Christ provided in his church that a seed should serve him from generation to generation.
      • (3.) That yet this priesthood should not be perpetual, but in process of time, like the branches and blossoms of a tree, should fail and wither. The flourishing of the almond-tree is mentioned as one of the signs of old age, Eccl. 12:5. This character was betimes put upon the Mosaic priesthood, which soon became old and ready to vanish away, Heb. 8:13.
    • 3. It was a type and figure of Christ and his priesthood: for he is the man, the branch, that is to be a priest upon his throne, as it follows (Zec. 6:12); and he was to grow up before God, as this before the ark, like a tender plant, and a root out of a dry ground, Isa. 53:2.
  • II. The record of this determination, by the preserving of the rod before the testimony, in perpetuam rei memoriam-that it might be had in perpetual remembrance, v. 10, 11. It is probable that the buds, and blossoms, and fruit, continued fresh; the same divine power that produced them in a night preserved them for ages, at least so long as it was necessary for a token against the rebels. So it was a standing miracle, and the continuance of it was an undeniable proof of the truth of it. Even the leaf of God's trees shall not wither, Ps. 1:3. This rod was preserved, as the censers were, to take away their murmurings, that they die not. Note,
    • 1. The design of God in all his providences, both mercies and judgments, and in the memorials of them, is to take away sin, and to prevent it. These things are done, these things written, that we sin not, 1 Jn. 2:1. Christ was manifested to take away sin.
    • 2. What God does for the taking away of sin is done in real kindness to us, that we die not. All the bitter potions he gives, and all the sharp methods he uses with us, are for the cure of a disease which otherwise would certainly be fatal. Bishop Hall observes here that the tables of the law, the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod, were preserved together in or about the ark (the apostle takes notice of them all three together, Heb. 9:4), to show to after-ages how the ancient church was taught, and fed, and ruled; and he infers how precious the doctrine, sacraments, and government, of the church are to God and should be to us. The rod of Moses was used in working many miracles, yet we do not find that this was preserved, for the keeping of it would serve only to gratify men's curiosity; but the rod of Aaron, which carried its miracle along with it, was carefully preserved, because that would be of standing use to convince men's consciences, to silence all disputes about the priesthood, and to confirm the faith of God's Israel in his institutions. Such is the difference between the sacraments which Christ has appointed for edification and the relics which men have devised for superstition.
  • III. The outcry of the people hereupon (v. 12, 13): Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish. Shall we be consumed with dying? This may be considered as the language either,
    • 1. Of a repining people quarrelling with the judgments of God, which, by their own pride and obstinacy, they had brought upon themselves. They seem to speak despairingly, as if God was a hard Master, that sought advantage against them, and took all occasions to pick quarrels with them, so that if they trod every so little awry, if they stepped ever so little beyond their bounds, they must die, they must perish, they must all perish, basely insinuating that God would never be satisfied with their blood and ruin, till he had made an end of them all and they were consumed with dying. Thus they seem to be like a wild bull in a net, full of the fury of the Lord (Isa. 51:20), fretting that God was too hard for them and that they were forced to submit, which they did only because they could not help it. Note, It is a very wicked thing to fret against God when we are in affliction, and in our distress thus to trespass yet more. If we die, if we perish, it is owing to ourselves, and the blame will lie upon our own heads. Or,
    • 2. Of a repenting people. Many interpreters take it as expressing their submission: "Now we see that it is the will of God we should keep our distance, and that it is at our peril if we draw nearer than is appointed. We submit to the divine will in this appointment; we will not contend any more, lest we all perish:' and they engage Moses to intercede for them, that they may not be all consumed with dying. Thus the point was gained, and in this matter God quite took away their murmurings, and henceforward they acquiesced. Note, When God judges he will overcome, and, one way or other, will oblige the most obstinate gainsayers to confess their folly sooner or later, and that wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. Vicisti Galilaee-O Galilaean, thou hast conquered!