Numbers 17 -- Old Testament -- Gospel Daily

Numbers

Chapter 17

Aaron's Rod Buds and Blossoms

God commands Moses to collect one rod from each of the twelve tribal princes, inscribing each man's name upon his rod, with Aaron's name written on the rod of Levi; all twelve rods are then laid before the LORD in the tabernacle of the congregation. God declares that the rod of the man He has chosen will blossom, serving as a definitive sign to silence the ongoing murmurings of the Israelites. The next morning, Aaron's rod alone is found to have budded, bloomed, and yielded almonds, confirming God's choice of Aaron and the house of Levi for priestly leadership. The LORD instructs Moses to return Aaron's rod before the ark as a lasting token against future rebels, but the Israelites respond with dread, lamenting that anyone who approaches the tabernacle will die.

Divine electionPriestly authorityMiraculous confirmationIsrael's fearEnd of murmuring

¹And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

²Speak 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.

³And 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.

⁴And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.

⁵And 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.

⁶And 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.

⁷And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

⁸And 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.

⁹And 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.

¹⁰And 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.

¹¹And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.

¹²And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.

¹³Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?