Numbers 17:1-15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:9

And Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord, unto all the children of Israel ,.... He brought them out of the holy place, and showed them to the princes of the several tribes: and they looked, and took every man his rod ; which they knew by their names upon them; by their own handwriting, as Aben Ezra; for though Moses is bid to write their names on them, Numbers 17:2 ; yet no more may be meant by that than that he should order them to be written, and take care that they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:10

And the Lord said unto Moses ,.... After the rods had been viewed, and every prince took his rod, and full satisfaction was given that the priesthood belonged to Aaron, by the budding and blossoming of his rod, when the rest remained as they were: bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony ; before the ark, in which the testimony or law was; here it was placed and continued, but how long cannot be said with certainty; no doubt for many ages; which increases the wonder, that it should,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:11

And Moses did so; as the Lord commanded him, even so did he. Took Aaron's rod, and laid it up before the ark for the purpose mentioned, being a faithful servant to God in all his house. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:12

And the children of Israel spake unto Moses ,.... The princes of the tribes, who had seen the miracle of the rod, and knew that it was laid up in the most holy place, and for what purpose, which gave them a sensible concern: these, and as many as were acquainted with it, addressed Moses upon it, as follows: saying, behold, we die, we perish, we all perish ; which being expressed without the copulative, and in different words, show that they were spoken quick and in haste, and discover... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:13

Whosoever cometh anything near unto the tabernacle of the Lord shall die ,.... They who before were so bold and daring as to think the priesthood was common to them with Aaron, or they had as good a right to it, and might go into the sanctuary of the Lord where he did, are now so frightened at the rod being laid up as a token against them, that they thought they must not come near the tabernacle at all, and, if they did, would be in the utmost danger of death: shall we be consumed with... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 17:2

And take of every one of them a rod - מטה matteh , the staff or scepter, which the prince or chief of each tribe bore, and which was the sign of office or royalty among almost all the people of the earth. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 17:5

The man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom - It was necessary that something farther should be done to quiet the minds of the people, and for ever to settle the dispute, in what tribe the priesthood should be fixed. God therefore took the method described in the text, and it had the desired effect; the Aaronical priesthood was never after disputed. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 17:8

The rod of Aaron - was budded, etc. - That is, on the same rod or staff were found buds, blossoms, and ripe fruit. This fact was so unquestionably miraculous, as to decide the business for ever; and probably this was intended to show that in the priesthood, represented by that of Aaron, the beginning, middle, and end of every good work must be found. The buds of good desires, the blossoms of holy resolutions and promising professions, and the ripe fruit of faith, love, and obedience, all... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 17:12

Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish - גוענו gavaenu signifies not so much to die simply, as to feel an extreme difficulty of breathing, which, producing suffocation, ends at last in death. See the folly and extravagance of this sinful people. At first, every person might come near to God, for all, they thought, were sufficiently holy, and every way qualified to minister in holy things. Now, no one, in their apprehension, can come near to the tabernacle without being consumed, ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 17:1

Verse 1 1.And the Lord spoke unto Moses. Howsoever stubborn the Israelites might be, yet their hardness of heart being now subdued, and their pride broken down, they ought to have acknowledged the authority of the priesthood, and to have perpetually held it in pious reverence. But it is plain from the confirmation of it, which is now added, that they were not yet thoroughly overcome. For God never appoints anything in vain; the remedy, therefore, was necessary, that He now applied to that... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 17:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 17:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 17:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 17:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 17:1

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