Numbers 17:3-13

3 and write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi; for there is one rod for the head of each of their fathers' households.

4 "You shall then deposit them in the tent of meeting in front of ¹the testimony, where * I meet with you.

5 "It will come about that the rod of ²the man whom I choose will sprout. Thus I will lessen from upon Myself the grumblings of the sons of Israel, who are grumbling against you."

6 Moses therefore spoke to the sons of Israel, and all their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers' households, twelve * rods, with the rod of Aaron among their rods.

7 So Moses deposited the rods before the LORD in ³the tent of the testimony.

8 Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, ⁴the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds.

9 Moses then brought out all the rods from the presence of the LORD to all the sons of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod.

10 But the LORD said to Moses, "Put back the rod of Aaron ⁵before the testimony to be kept as a sign against the ⁶rebels, that you may put an end to their grumblings against * Me, so that they will not die."

11 Thus Moses did; just as the LORD had commanded him, so he did.

12 Then the sons of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, "⁷Behold, we perish, we are dying, we are all dying!

13 "⁸Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD, must die. Are we to perish completely?"

Numbers 17:3-13 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

• 1. Ex 25:16, 21, 22; Numbers 17:7
• 2. Numbers 16:5
• 3. Numbers 1:50, 53; Numbers 9:15
• 4. Ezekiel 17:24; Hebrews 9:4
• 5. Numbers 17:4
• 6. Deuteronomy 9:7, 24
• 7. Isaiah 6:5
• 8. Numbers 1:51

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "for preserving"
• [b] Lit "sons of rebellion"