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
And these are the names H8034 of the men H582 that shall stand H5975 with you: of the tribe of Reuben; H7205 Elizur H468 the son H1121 of Shedeur. H7707 Of Simeon; H8095 Shelumiel H8017 the son H1121 of Zurishaddai. H6701 Of Judah; H3063 Nahshon H5177 the son H1121 of Amminadab. H5992 Of Issachar; H3485 Nethaneel H5417 the son H1121 of Zuar. H6686 Of Zebulun; H2074 Eliab H446 the son H1121 of Helon. H2497 Of the children H1121 of Joseph: H3130 of Ephraim; H669 Elishama H476 the son H1121 of Ammihud: H5989 of Manasseh; H4519 Gamaliel H1583 the son H1121 of Pedahzur. H6301 Of Benjamin; H1144 Abidan H27 the son H1121 of Gideoni. H1441 Of Dan; H1835 Ahiezer H295 the son H1121 of Ammishaddai. H5996 Of Asher; H836 Pagiel H6295 the son H1121 of Ocran. H5918 Of Gad; H1410 Eliasaph H460 the son H1121 of Deuel. H1845 Of Naphtali; H5321 Ahira H299 the son H1121 of Enan. H5881 These were the renowned H7148 of the congregation, H5712 princes H5387 of the tribes H4294 of their fathers, H1 heads H7218 of thousands H505 in H1992 Israel. H3478
And on the east side H6924 toward the rising H4217 of the sun shall they of the standard H1714 of the camp H4264 of Judah H3063 pitch H2583 throughout their armies: H6635 and Nahshon H5177 the son H1121 of Amminadab H5992 shall be captain H5387 of the children H1121 of Judah. H3063 And his host, H6635 and those that were numbered H6485 of them, were threescore and fourteen H7657 H702 thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred. H3967 And those that do pitch H2583 next unto him shall be the tribe H4294 of Issachar: H3485 and Nethaneel H5417 the son H1121 of Zuar H6686 shall be captain H5387 of the children H1121 of Issachar. H3485 And his host, H6635 and those that were numbered H6485 thereof, were fifty H2572 and four H702 thousand H505 and four H702 hundred. H3967 Then the tribe H4294 of Zebulun: H2074 and Eliab H446 the son H1121 of Helon H2497 shall be captain H5387 of the children H1121 of Zebulun. H2074 And his host, H6635 and those that were numbered H6485 thereof, were fifty H2572 and seven H7651 thousand H505 and four H702 hundred. H3967 All that were numbered H6485 in the camp H4264 of Judah H3063 were an hundred H3967 thousand H505 and fourscore H8084 thousand H505 and six H8337 thousand H505 and four H702 hundred, H3967 throughout their armies. H6635 These shall first H7223 set forth. H5265 On the south side H8486 shall be the standard H1714 of the camp H4264 of Reuben H7205 according to their armies: H6635 and the captain H5387 of the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 shall be Elizur H468 the son H1121 of Shedeur. H7707 And his host, H6635 and those that were numbered H6485 thereof, were forty H705 and six H8337 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred. H3967 And those which pitch H2583 by him shall be the tribe H4294 of Simeon: H8095 and the captain H5387 of the children H1121 of Simeon H8095 shall be Shelumiel H8017 the son H1121 of Zurishaddai. H6701 And his host, H6635 and those that were numbered H6485 of them, were fifty H2572 and nine H8672 thousand H505 and three H7969 hundred. H3967 Then the tribe H4294 of Gad: H1410 and the captain H5387 of the sons H1121 of Gad H1410 shall be Eliasaph H460 the son H1121 of Reuel. H7467 And his host, H6635 and those that were numbered H6485 of them, were forty H705 and five H2568 thousand H505 and six H8337 hundred H3967 and fifty. H2572 All that were numbered H6485 in the camp H4264 of Reuben H7205 were an hundred H3967 thousand H505 and fifty H2572 and one H259 thousand H505 and four H702 hundred H3967 and fifty, H2572 throughout their armies. H6635 And they shall set forth H5265 in the second rank. H8145 Then the tabernacle H168 of the congregation H4150 shall set forward H5265 with the camp H4264 of the Levites H3881 in the midst H8432 of the camp: H4264 as they encamp, H2583 so shall they set forward, H5265 every man H376 in his place H3027 by their standards. H1714 On the west side H3220 shall be the standard H1714 of the camp H4264 of Ephraim H669 according to their armies: H6635 and the captain H5387 of the sons H1121 of Ephraim H669 shall be Elishama H476 the son H1121 of Ammihud. H5989 And his host, H6635 and those that were numbered H6485 of them, were forty H705 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred. H3967 And by him shall be the tribe H4294 of Manasseh: H4519 and the captain H5387 of the children H1121 of Manasseh H4519 shall be Gamaliel H1583 the son H1121 of Pedahzur. H6301 And his host, H6635 and those that were numbered H6485 of them, were thirty H7970 and two H8147 thousand H505 and two hundred. H3967 Then the tribe H4294 of Benjamin: H1144 and the captain H5387 of the sons H1121 of Benjamin H1144 shall be Abidan H27 the son H1121 of Gideoni. H1441 And his host, H6635 and those that were numbered H6485 of them, were thirty H7970 and five H2568 thousand H505 and four H702 hundred. H3967 All that were numbered H6485 of the camp H4264 of Ephraim H669 were an hundred H3967 thousand H505 and eight H8083 thousand H505 and an hundred, H3967 throughout their armies. H6635 And they shall go forward H5265 in the third rank. H7992 The standard H1714 of the camp H4264 of Dan H1835 shall be on the north side H6828 by their armies: H6635 and the captain H5387 of the children H1121 of Dan H1835 shall be Ahiezer H295 the son H1121 of Ammishaddai. H5996 And his host, H6635 and those that were numbered H6485 of them, were threescore H8346 and two H8147 thousand H505 and seven H7651 hundred. H3967 And those that encamp H2583 by him shall be the tribe H4294 of Asher: H836 and the captain H5387 of the children H1121 of Asher H836 shall be Pagiel H6295 the son H1121 of Ocran. H5918 And his host, H6635 and those that were numbered H6485 of them, were forty H705 and one H259 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred. H3967 Then the tribe H4294 of Naphtali: H5321 and the captain H5387 of the children H1121 of Naphtali H5321 shall be Ahira H299 the son H1121 of Enan. H5881 And his host, H6635 and those that were numbered H6485 of them, were fifty H2572 and three H7969 thousand H505 and four H702 hundred. H3967
In the first H7223 place went H5265 the standard H1714 of the camp H4264 of the children H1121 of Judah H3063 according to their armies: H6635 and over his host was Nahshon H5177 the son H1121 of Amminadab. H5992 And over the host H6635 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Issachar H3485 was Nethaneel H5417 the son H1121 of Zuar. H6686 And over the host H6635 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Zebulun H2074 was Eliab H446 the son H1121 of Helon. H2497 And the tabernacle H4908 was taken down; H3381 and the sons H1121 of Gershon H1648 and the sons H1121 of Merari H4847 set forward, H5265 bearing H5375 the tabernacle. H4908 And the standard H1714 of the camp H4264 of Reuben H7205 set forward H5265 according to their armies: H6635 and over his host H6635 was Elizur H468 the son H1121 of Shedeur. H7707 And over the host H6635 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Simeon H8095 was Shelumiel H8017 the son H1121 of Zurishaddai. H6701 And over the host H6635 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Gad H1410 was Eliasaph H460 the son H1121 of Deuel. H1845 And the Kohathites H6956 set forward, H5265 bearing H5375 the sanctuary: H4720 and the other did set up H6965 the tabernacle H4908 against they came. H935 And the standard H1714 of the camp H4264 of the children H1121 of Ephraim H669 set forward H5265 according to their armies: H6635 and over his host H6635 was Elishama H476 the son H1121 of Ammihud. H5989 And over the host H6635 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Manasseh H4519 was Gamaliel H1583 the son H1121 of Pedahzur. H6301 And over the host H6635 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 was Abidan H27 the son H1121 of Gideoni. H1441 And the standard H1714 of the camp H4264 of the children H1121 of Dan H1835 set forward, H5265 which was the rereward H622 of all the camps H4264 throughout their hosts: H6635 and over his host H6635 was Ahiezer H295 the son H1121 of Ammishaddai. H5996 And over the host H6635 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Asher H836 was Pagiel H6295 the son H1121 of Ocran. H5918 And over the host H6635 of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Naphtali H5321 was Ahira H299 the son H1121 of Enan. H5881
Moreover, thou son H1121 of man, H120 take H3947 thee one H259 stick, H6086 and write H3789 upon it, For Judah, H3063 and for the children H1121 of Israel H3478 his companions: H2270 then take H3947 another H259 stick, H6086 and write H3789 upon it, For Joseph, H3130 the stick H6086 of Ephraim, H669 and for all the house H1004 of Israel H3478 his companions: H2270 And join H7126 them one H259 to another H259 into one H259 stick; H6086 and they shall become one H259 in thine hand. H3027 And when the children H1121 of thy people H5971 shall speak H559 unto thee, saying, H559 Wilt thou not shew H5046 us what thou meanest by these? Say H1696 unto them, Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Behold, I will take H3947 the stick H6086 of Joseph, H3130 which is in the hand H3027 of Ephraim, H669 and the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 his fellows, H2270 and will put H5414 them with him, even with the stick H6086 of Judah, H3063 and make H6213 them one H259 stick, H6086 and they shall be one H259 in mine hand. H3027 And the sticks H6086 whereon thou writest H3789 shall be in thine hand H3027 before their eyes. H5869
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Numbers 17
Commentary on Numbers 17 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 17
Nu 17:1-13. Aaron's Rod Flourishes.
2-5. Speak unto the children of Israel—The controversy with Moses and Aaron about the priesthood was of such a nature and magnitude as required a decisive and authoritative settlement. For the removal of all doubts and the silencing of all murmuring in the future regarding the holder of the office, a miracle was wrought of a remarkable character and permanent duration; and in the manner of performing it, all the people were made to have a direct and special interest.
take of every one … princes … twelve rods—As the princes, being the oldest sons of the chief family, and heads of their tribes, might have advanced the best claims to the priesthood, if that sacred dignity was to be shared among all the tribes, they were therefore selected, and being twelve in number—that of Joseph being counted only one—Moses was ordered to see that the name of each was inscribed—a practice borrowed from the Egyptians—upon his rod or wand of office. The name of Aaron rather than of Levi was used, as the latter name would have opened a door of controversy among the Levites; and as there was to be one rod only for the head of each tribe, the express appointment of a rod for Aaron determined him to be the head of that tribe, as well as that branch or family of the tribe to which the priestly dignity should belong. These rods were to be laid in the tabernacle close to the ark (compare Nu 17:10 and Heb 9:4), where a divine token was promised that would for all time terminate the dispute.
6. the rod of Aaron was among their rods—either one of the twelve, or, as many suppose, a thirteenth in the midst (Heb 9:4). The rods were of dry sticks or wands, probably old, as transmitted from one head of the family to a succeeding.
8. Moses went into the tabernacle—being privileged to do so on this occasion by the special command of God. And he there beheld the remarkable spectacle of Aaron's rod—which, according to Josephus, was a stick of an almond tree, bearing fruit in three different stages at once—buds, blossoms, and fruit.
10. Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels—For if, after all admonitions and judgments, seconded by miracles, the people should still rebel, they would certainly pay the penalty by death.
12, 13. Behold, we die, we perish—an exclamation of fear, both from the remembrance of former judgments, and the apprehension of future relapses into murmuring.
13. cometh any thing near—that is, nearer than he ought to do; an error into which many may fall. Will the stern justice of God overtake every slight offense? We shall all be destroyed. Some, however, regard this exclamation as the symptom or a new discontent, rather than the indication of a reverential and submissive spirit. Let us fear and sin not.