Numbers 17:1-13 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 17:8-13

Here is, I. The final determination of the controversy concerning the priesthood by a miracle, Num. 17:8; 9. The rods or staves were brought out from the most holy place where they were laid up, and publicly produced before the people; and, while all the rest of the rods remained as they were, Aaron's rod only, of a dry stick, became a living branch, budded, and blossomed, and yielded almonds. In some places there were buds, in others blossoms, in others fruit, at the same time. This was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:1

And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... After the plague ceased, for the further confirmation of the priesthood in Aaron's family, another method is directed to by the Lord: saying : as follows. 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:8

And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness ,.... Where none but he could go at any time; this was the day after the rods had been placed there: and, behold, the rod of Aaron, for the house of Levi ; the rod that had Aaron's name upon it, which was to represent the tribe of Levi, of which he was: was budded, and brought forth buds ; knobs of blossom, such that are seen on trees before they open; for the almond tree puts forth its blossoms before... read more

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 17:8-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:1

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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 17:8

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