Numbers 17:1-7

Aaron's Staff Buds

1 [a] The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 1"Speak to the people of Israel, and get from them staffs, one for each fathers' house, from all their chiefs according to their fathers' houses, twelve staffs. Write each man's name on his staff,
3 and write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi. For there shall be one staff for the head of each fathers' house.
4 Then you shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the testimony, 2where I meet with you.
5 And the staff of the man 3whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me 4the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you."
6 Moses spoke to the people of Israel. And all their chiefs gave him staffs, one for each chief, according to their fathers' houses, twelve staffs. And the staff of Aaron was among their staffs.
7 And Moses deposited the staffs before the LORD in 5the tent of the testimony.

Numbers 17:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References 5

  • 1. [Ezekiel 37:16]
  • 2. See Exodus 25:22
  • 3. Numbers 16:5
  • 4. Numbers 16:11
  • 5. Numbers 18:2; Exodus 38:21; 2 Chronicles 24:6; Acts 7:44

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.