17 2 The twelve rods of the twelve princes of the tribes of Israel. 8 Aaron’s rod buddeth, and beareth blossoms, 10 For a testimony against the rebellious people.
1 And the Lord spake unto [a]Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod, after the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the family of their fathers, even twelve rods: and thou shalt write every man’s name upon his rod.
3 And write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for every rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
4 And thou shalt put them in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, before the Ark of the testimony, (A)where I will declare myself to you.
5 And the man’s rod, whom I [b]choose, shall blossom: and I will make cease from me the grudgings of the children of Israel, which grudge against you.
6 ¶ Then Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and all their Princes gave him a rod, one rod for every prince, according to the houses of their fathers, even twelve rods, and the rod [c]of Aaron was among their rods.
7 And Moses laid the rods before the Lord in the Tabernacle of the Testimony.
8 And when Moses on the morrow went into the Tabernacle of the Testimony, behold, the rod of Aaron [d]for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and brought forth blossoms, and bare ripe almonds.
9 Then Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord unto all the children of Israel: and they looked upon them, and took every man his rod.
10 After, the Lord said unto Moses, (B)Bring Aaron’s rod again before the Testimony to be kept for a token to the rebellious children, and thou shalt cause their [e]murmurings to cease from me, that they die not.
11 So Moses did as the Lord had commanded him: so did he.
12 ¶ And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, [f]we are dead, we perish, we are all lost:
13 Whosoever cometh near or approacheth to the Tabernacle of the Lord, shall die: shall we be consumed and die?
Footnotes
- Numbers 17:1 While he was in the door of the Tabernacle.
- Numbers 17:5 To be the chief Priest.
- Numbers 17:6 Though Joseph’s tribe was divided into two in the distribution of the land, yet here it is but one and Levi maketh a tribe.
- Numbers 17:8 To declare that God did choose the house of Levi to serve him in the Tabernacle.
- Numbers 17:10 Grudging that Aaron should be high Priest.
- Numbers 17:12 The Chaldea text describeth thus their murmuring: We die by the sword, the earth swalloweth us up, the pestilence doth consume us.