Numbers 17:6

6 And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and all their chiefs gave him a rod , for one chief a rod, according to the house of their families, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron in the midst of the rods.

Numbers 17:6 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 17:6

And Moses spake unto the children of Israel
What the Lord had bid him say unto them concerning the rods, which they hearkened unto and observed:

and everyone of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince
one;
every prince of the several tribes, and so a rod for every tribe, as well as for each prince:

according to their father's houses, [even] twelve rods;
there being twelve tribes named after their fathers, or the patriarchs, the twelve sons of Jacob; and Joseph having two tribes which sprung from him, called after his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh, there were twelve rods besides that of Aaron; and so the Vulgate Latin version renders the words with the next clause,

``and there were twelve rods besides the rod of Aaron;''

in all thirteen; though the Jews say there were but twelve with it, allowing but one rod for Joseph, under whom were comprehended Ephraim and Manasseh, and reckoning the tribe of Levi one of the twelve so Aben Ezra observes, that the rod of Levi was among the twelve and Joseph had but one rod:

and the rod of Aaron [was] among their rods:
in the middle of them, and was so placed, as Jarchi thinks, that it might not be said, because it was put on the side of the Shechinah or divine Majesty, therefore it budded; but being in the middle of them there could be no difference in that respect.

Numbers 17:6 In-Context

4 And thou shalt put them in the tabernacle of witness, before the testimony, where I will be made known to thee.

5 And it shall be, the man whom I shall choose, his rod shall blossom; and I will remove from me the murmuring of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you.

6 And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and all their chiefs gave him a rod , for one chief a rod, according to the house of their families, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron in the midst of the rods.

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

8 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi blossomed, and put forth a bud, and bloomed blossoms and produced almonds.