Numbers 17

God confirmeth Aarons calling by the miraculous blowing of his staff alone, verse 1. etc. which is laid up for a memorial, 10. the people are terrified, by reason thereof, and seek for comfort at Moseh`s hand, 12.

1. Then the LORD spake unto Moseh, saying;

2. Speak unto the children of Israel, and take from them, for each fatherly house a staff, [Hebrew take from by them staff, staff, according to the fathers house, etc.] from all their chieftains [see above, Chapter 2.] according to the house of their Fathers, twelve staves: Thou salt write every ones name upon his staff.

3. But Aaron name thou salt write upon the staff of Levi: for one staff there shall be for the head of the house of their father: [i.e. for each Head, prince or Chieftain of the fatherly or paternal house: The meaning is; although I have divided or parted the Tribe of Levi in two, to wit, the Priestly line of Aaron, and that of the Levites; yet in this case they shall be jointly accounted under one Head, viz.Aaron.]

4. And thou shalt lay them aside in the Tent of the Congregation: before the Testimony, [i.e. Before the Ark of the Covenant, wherein the Tables of the Covenant were laid up, being a Testimony of the will of God] whither I shall come together with you. [Or, shall be assembled, or assemble with, unto, or by you, viz. for to speak with you, of whatsoever you are to make known to the children of Israel: whereof the Tent of the Congregation or Assembly, had its denomination principally. See Exodus, 25.22.]

5. And it shall come to pass, that the staff of the man, whom I shall have chosen, [viz. for the priesthood] shall blossom: [or bud forth, sprout, blow, and so verse 8.] and I shall still the murmuring of the children of Israel against me, [Hebrew. from over, or from against me, or still from me, or cause to cease, i.e. stop and quiet; there being more such like words in Hebrew Tongue, which carry and imply the sense of two at once, see Genesis 12. On verse 15. The meaning is; I shall make them to cease and give over their murmuring against me, and you also; for as much as their murmuring against my self; see below, verse 10.] which they murmur against you. [viz. against Moseh and Aaron.]

6. Moseh then spake unto the children of Israel, and all their Chieftaines gave unto him a staff, for each Chieftain a staff, [Hebrew. for a chief, or Prince A staff, for a chief one] according to the house of their fathers, twelve slaves: Aarons staff was also among. [Hebrew. in the midst their staves.]

7. And Moseh laid their staves aside, before the face of the LORD, [See above on verse 4.] in the Tent of the Testimony.

8. Now it happened on the second day, that Moseh went into the Tent of the Testimony: and behold, Aarons staff, for the house of Levi, blossomed: for it brought forth Buds, and bloomed Blossoms, and bore Almonds. [Others, ripped almonds, idest, bare Almonds, that were ripening, or growing on to ripeness and maturity by degrees.]

9. Then Moseh brought forth all these staves, from before the face of the LORD [i.e. out of the most holy place, where they had lain before the Ark] unto all the children of Israel: and they saw it, and took each his staff.

10. Then said the LORD to Moseh; Bring the staff of Moseh again before the Testimony in custodies, to (be) a token for the rebellious children: [Hebrew. children of Rebellion] thus shalt thou make an end of their murmuring against me, [Hebrew, end their murmurings from me, or, from ever against me, id est, make an end, and keep it from me, cause it to cease, and make them give over murmuring against me: see above, on v.5.] that they die not.

11. and Moseh did it: according as the LORD had commanded him, so did he.

12. Then the children of Israel spake unto Moseh, saying; Behold, we give up the ghost, [Or, we faint, sworn, are in agony, expiring, and so in the sequel; Thus they speak out of great terror and astonishment, fearing they should perish all of them like Korah; whereas the LORD on the contrary, by this very means did warn them to beware of destruction, shewing his mercy and long-suffering thereby. See verse 5. and 10.] we perish, we perish all.

13. Whosoever draweth nigh in any wise, [Hebrew, who so draweth nigh, who so draweth nigh] unto the Tabernacle of the LORD, shall die: shall we then perish, giving up the ghost: [others, shall we then utterly, totally, altogether, (or,) all at once, perish; or, have they made an end of perishing, i.e. shall there be no end then of perishing?]