Números 17

1 Então disse o Senhor a Moisés:

2 Fala aos filhos de Israel, e toma deles uma vara para cada casa paterna de todos os seus príncipes, segundo as casas de seus pais, doze varas; e escreve o nome de cada um sobre a sua vara.

3 O nome de Arão escreverás sobre a vara de Levi; porque cada cabeça das casas de seus pais terá uma vara.

4 E as porás na tenda da revelação, perante o testemunho, onde venho a vós.

5 Então brotará a vara do homem que eu escolher; assim farei cessar as murmurações dos filhos de Israel contra mim, com que murmuram contra vós.

6 Falou, pois, Moisés aos filhos de Israel, e todos os seus príncipes deram-lhe varas, cada príncipe uma, segundo as casas de seus pais, doze varas; e entre elas estava a vara de Arão.

7 E Moisés depositou as varas perante o Senhor na tenda do testemunho.

8 Sucedeu, pois, no dia seguinte, que Moisés entrou na tenda do testemunho, e eis que a vara de Arão, pela casa de Levi, brotara, produzira gomos, rebentara em flores e dera amêndoas maduras.

9 Então Moisés trouxe todas as varas de diante do Senhor a todos os filhos de Israel; e eles olharam, e tomaram cada um a sua vara.

10 Então o Senhor disse a Moisés: Torna a pôr a vara de Arão perante o testemunho, para se guardar por sinal contra os filhos rebeldes; para que possas fazer acabar as suas murmuraçoes contra mim, a fim de que não morram.

11 Assim fez Moisés; como lhe ordenara o Senhor, assim fez.

12 Então disseram os filhos de Israel a Moisés: Eis aqui, nós expiramos, perecemos, todos nós perecemos.

13 Todo aquele que se aproximar, sim, todo o que se aproximar do tabernáculo do Senhor, morrerá; porventura pereceremos todos?

Números 17 Commentary

Chapter 17

Twelve rods laid up before the Lord. (1-7) Aaron's rod buds, and is kept for a memorial. (8-13)

Verses 1-7 It is an instance of the grace of God, that, having wrought divers miracles to punish sin, he would work one more to prevent it. Twelve rods or staves were to be brought in. It is probable that they were the staves which the princes used as ensigns of their authority; old dry staves, that had no sap in them. They were to expect that the rod of the tribe, or prince, whom God chose to the priesthood, should bud and blossom. Moses did not object that the matter was sufficiently settled already; he did not undertake to determine it; but left the case before the Lord.

Verses 8-13 While all the other rods remained as they were. Aaron's rod became a living branch. In some places there were buds, in others blossoms, in others fruit, at the same time; all this was miraculous. Thus Aaron was manifested to be under the special blessing of Heaven. Fruitfulness is the best evidence of a Divine call; and the plants of God's setting, and the boughs cut off them, will flourish. This rod was preserved, to take away the murmurings of the people, that they might not die. The design of God, in all his providences, and in the memorials of them, is to take away sin. Christ was manifested to take away sin. Christ is expressly called a rod out of the stem of Jesse: little prospect was there, according to human views, that he should ever flourish. But the dry rod revived and blossomed to the confusion of his adversaries. The people cry, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish! This was the language of a repining people, quarrelling with the judgments of God, which by their own pride and obstinacy they brought upon themselves. It is very wicked 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 of ourselves, and the blame will be upon our own heads. When God judges, he will overcome, and will oblige the most obstinate gainsayers to confess their folly. And how great are our mercies, that we have a clearer and a better dispensation, established upon better promises!

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 17

In this chapter the priesthood of Aaron is further confirmed and established by the budding and blossom of his rod, as it lay among the princes of the several tribes, when theirs did not, Nu 17:1-9; which rod of Aaron was ordered to be laid up before the ark, as a token against the rebels, and to put an end to all murmurings against Aaron for the future; which was accordingly done, Nu 17:10,11; upon which the people expressed their fear of perishing because of their sins, Nu 17:12,13.