Numbers 17:2-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 17:1-7

Here we have, I. Orders given for the bringing in of a rod for every tribe (which was peculiarly significant, for the word here used for a rod sometimes signifies a tribe, as particularly Num. 34:13), that God by a miracle, wrought on purpose, might make it known on whom he had conferred the honour of the priesthood. 1. It seems then the priesthood was a preferment worth seeking and striving for, even by the princes of the tribes. It is an honour to the greatest of men to be employed in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:2

Speak unto the children of Israel ,.... The principal men among them of the several tribes: and take of everyone of them ; not of every individual of the people of Israel, but of their princes, as afterwards explained: a rod, according to the house of their fathers ; or "father", of whom their house or tribe was called, as Reuben, Simeon, &c.; this rod was either a common walking staff, as some think, or rather the ensign of their princely office and dignity, peculiar to each... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:3

And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi ,.... Or upon the rod that was for the tribe of Levi; the name of "Aaron" was to be written, not the word "Levi", or a "Levite", as Josephus F5 Antiqu. l. 4. c. 4. sect. 2. ; for that would not have decided the controversy about the priesthood, which chiefly lay between the Levites and the family of Aaron, who were of the same tribe: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers ; one rod for the head or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:4

And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation ,.... In the most holy place: before the testimony ; that is, the ark in which the testimony or the law was; here they were laid as in the presence of God, who was in a miraculous way to decide the controversy by them, and put an end to it; for upon the ark was the mercy seat, over which were the cherubim, the seat of the divine Majesty, and where none could come at them, and where no fraud could be supposed to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:5

And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod whom I shall choose ,.... Or make it manifest that he had chosen him, and so confirm the choice he had made of him and his family, for the priesthood to be and continue in: shall blossom ; bud and blossom, and yield fruit, as it afterwards did, which is here declared beforehand, that the miracle might appear the greater, exactly answering to a prediction delivered out before of it: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 17:2

Verse 2 2.Speak unto the children of Israel. They are mistaken who suppose that to the twelve rods there was another added for the tribe of Levi; (103) for, since there was no question here as to the possession of the land, there was no occasion at all for the division of the tribe of Joseph into two parts. We know, too, that it was endowed with a double portion, because the Levites had no inheritance; and in this case the circumstances were different, because all the other tribes were... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 17:4

Verse 4 4.And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle. The place itself had not a little to do with the effectual decision of the matter; because it was clearly manifested that God was the author of the miracle, and consequently that the priesthood proceeded from Him. For we have elsewhere said that the whole government of the Church so entirely depends upon His decree, that men are not permitted to interfere with it. Wherefore He set the ark of the covenant in opposition to the voices of the... read more

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