Overview
Numbers 17 is a short but significant chapter that describes a miraculous event affirming Aaron's role as the chosen priest. This event follows the rebellion of Korah and serves to confirm God's selection of Aaron and his descendants for the priesthood. Key aspects include:
God's Command to Moses: After the rebellion against Moses and Aaron's authority, God commands Moses to collect staffs from the leader of each of Israel's twelve tribes, including Aaron’s staff for the tribe of Levi.
The Staffs in the Tent of Meeting: Moses places the twelve staffs in the Tent of Meeting before the Testimony (Ark of the Covenant). The purpose is to settle any further complaints against Moses and Aaron by providing a clear sign of God's chosen leader.
Aaron’s Staff Blossoms: Overnight, Aaron's staff not only sprouts but also blossoms and produces almonds. This miraculous sign clearly demonstrates God’s choice of Aaron and his descendants for the priesthood.
The Staffs as a Sign: To prevent future rebellions, God instructs Moses to place Aaron’s blossoming staff back before the Testimony. It serves as a sign to the rebels and as a reminder of the authority of Aaron's priesthood.
The People's Fear: The Israelites express fear at the prospect of perishing if they come near the sanctuary, showing their understanding of the seriousness of rebelling against God’s commands and chosen leaders.
Numbers 17 emphasizes the importance of divinely appointed leadership and the danger of challenging it. The blossoming of Aaron’s staff is a powerful symbol of life and authority, serving as a divine endorsement of Aaron's priesthood and a reminder of God's presence and power. This chapter is key in reinforcing the structure and order God established for His people.
God's Command to Moses: After the rebellion against Moses and Aaron's authority, God commands Moses to collect staffs from the leader of each of Israel's twelve tribes, including Aaron’s staff for the tribe of Levi.
The Staffs in the Tent of Meeting: Moses places the twelve staffs in the Tent of Meeting before the Testimony (Ark of the Covenant). The purpose is to settle any further complaints against Moses and Aaron by providing a clear sign of God's chosen leader.
Aaron’s Staff Blossoms: Overnight, Aaron's staff not only sprouts but also blossoms and produces almonds. This miraculous sign clearly demonstrates God’s choice of Aaron and his descendants for the priesthood.
The Staffs as a Sign: To prevent future rebellions, God instructs Moses to place Aaron’s blossoming staff back before the Testimony. It serves as a sign to the rebels and as a reminder of the authority of Aaron's priesthood.
The People's Fear: The Israelites express fear at the prospect of perishing if they come near the sanctuary, showing their understanding of the seriousness of rebelling against God’s commands and chosen leaders.
Numbers 17 emphasizes the importance of divinely appointed leadership and the danger of challenging it. The blossoming of Aaron’s staff is a powerful symbol of life and authority, serving as a divine endorsement of Aaron's priesthood and a reminder of God's presence and power. This chapter is key in reinforcing the structure and order God established for His people.
Numbers 17
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.
3 And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
4 And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.
5 And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
6 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.
7 And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.
8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.
9 And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.
10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
11 And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.
12 And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.
13 Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?
End of Numbers 17
1 Year Plan: Mar 4 - Num 16, Num 17, Luk 1
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.
3 And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
4 And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.
5 And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
6 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.
7 And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.
8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.
9 And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.
10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
11 And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.
12 And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.
13 Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?
End of Numbers 17
1 Year Plan: Mar 4 - Num 16, Num 17, Luk 1
Got a Question or Comment?
