Aaron’s staff sprouts
17
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 📚“Speak to the children of Israel, and take from each of them a rod for the households of their fathers, that is from each of their leaders for the households of their fathers, a total of twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod. 3 📚And you shall write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi; for there is to be one rod for each head of the households of their fathers. 4 📚And you shall put them in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I meet with you. 5 📚And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose, will sprout; and I will rid myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, with which they grumble against you”. 6 And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their leaders gave him a rod, one for each leader for their fathers’ households, twelve rods. And Aaron’s rod was among their rods. 7 📚And Moses put the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of testimony.
8 📚And it happened on the next day, when Moses went into the tabernacle of testimony, he saw that the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and budded and produced blossoms, and yielded almonds. 9 And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD to all the children of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod.
10 📚And the LORD said to Moses, “Bring Aaron’s rod again in front of the testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels; and you shall completely take away their complaints from my presence so that they do not die”. 11 And Moses did so. He did just as the LORD commanded him.
17:1-11 Note at 16:28-30. God gives further evidence that Aaron is His chosen priest. God’s object is to keep the people from grumbling about it any more so they would not die (v 10). Aaron’s rod signified his position as priest. Aaron himself signifies the Lord Jesus as High Priest (note at Ex 28:9-14).⚜
12 📚And the children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “Look, we are dying! We are destroyed! We’re all destroyed! 13 📚Anyone who comes even near the tabernacle of the LORD dies. Will death consume us all?”
17:12-13 The death of the 250 by fire from God (Num 16:35) left the people fearful and perplexed. So in the next chapter God sets forth again the clear duties of the priests and Levites so there would no longer be “wrath on the sons of Israel” (Num 18:5). God’s work must be done in God’s way by the people God has chosen. But, alas, many think they are doing God’s work when God has not called them or sent them (Jer 14:14).⚜