Numbers 17
Numbers 17 is part of “Wilderness Wanderings” (15–19) in the outline of Numbers.
Numbers 17 summary
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…
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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 (Num 17:1-7). II. Upon trial, the matter is determined by the miraculous blossoming of Aaron's rod (Num 17:8, Num 17:9). III. The decision of the controversy is registered by the preservation of the rod (Num 17:10, Num 17:11). IV. The people acquiesce in it with some reluctance (Num 17:12, Num 17:13).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Numbers 17 (ASV)
American Standard Version (public domain)
Aaron's Staff Buds
1And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 2Speak 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. 3And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers’ houses. 4And thou shalt lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you. 5And 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. 6And 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. 7And Moses laid up the rods before Jehovah in the tent of the testimony. 8And 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. 9And Moses brought out all the rods from before Jehovah unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod. 10And 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. 11Thus did Moses: as Jehovah commanded him, so did he. 12And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone. 13Every one that cometh near, that cometh near unto the tabernacle of Jehovah, dieth: shall we perish all of us?