Numbers 17:7

7 Moses placed the staffs in the LORD ’s presence in the Tabernacle of the Covenant.

Numbers 17:7 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 17:7

And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle
of witness.
] In that part of the tabernacle where the testimony or witness was, that is, the law, which was in the ark, over which was the mercy seat, with the cherubim between which Jehovah dwelt, and this was the most holy place; and the rods being laid here, might be said to be laid before the Lord, who, by making a difference in one of those rods from the rest, would decide the controversy about the priesthood, which was the end of their being laid before him.

Numbers 17:7 In-Context

5 Buds will sprout on the staff belonging to the man I choose. Then I will finally put an end to the people’s murmuring and complaining against you.”
6 So Moses gave the instructions to the people of Israel, and each of the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron, brought Moses a staff.
7 Moses placed the staffs in the LORD ’s presence in the Tabernacle of the Covenant.
8 When he went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron’s staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds!
9 When Moses brought all the staffs out from the LORD ’s presence, he showed them to the people. Each man claimed his own staff.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or Tabernacle of the Testimony; also in 17:8 .
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.