Numbers 17

Numbers 17:1-7

To prevent, if possible, any future contest about the priesthood, God understands to confiscate a perpetual memorial of his appointment of darem. 1. He enjoins each of the twelve princes to bring a rod.

ver. 1—7. 2. Aaron’s miraculously blissoms, ver. 8, 9. 3. The before the rod is preserved for a memorial, ver. 10, 11. 4. The people acquiesce in the delirium, ver. 12, 13.

1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2. Speak 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. 3. And 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. 4. And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. 5. And 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. 6. And 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, new twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. 7. And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD, in the tabernacle of witness.

God is graciously pleased to make use of every means to link to the people, and to engage them to submit to his ordinances. Many sought the priesthood, but it is to be feared, as now, more for the advantage attending it, than out of love to the service; but God will chuse for himself; and without a divine call, intrusion, as we have been, is fearfully dangerous. Twelve rods of almond, such as the princes bore, as ensigns of authority, are ordered, each man’s name inscribed or bound on his own rod, according to his tribe, and Aaron’s in the midst of them. These together are laid up before the ark one night, and God’s choice is before declared to fall on the man whose rod shall blossom. Note, Nothing to desecrate, as the prevention of all disputes and strives among the people of God.

8. And 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. 9. And 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. 10. ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring: Aaron’s rod again, before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the亻rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not. 11. And Moses did for as the LORD commanded him, to die he. 12. And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish. 13. Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD, shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?

Numbers 17:8-13

On the morrow the rods are produced, and a new miracle confirms God’s appointment of Aaron.

1. His rod alone was teeming with life; fruit, leaves, and blossoms all adorn it; thus every suspicion of fraud in Moses is removed, and Aaron’s office confirmed to him. Note, (1.) They bring forth fruit abundantly, whom God hath called and chosen. (2.) Those whom Christ ordains and sends to his work, he will bless. To see no souls quickened and converted by our ministry, would be a shrewd proof that we have not been ordained of God.

2. Aaron’s rod is laid up for a memorial; and if, as is probable, the blossoms, leaves, and fruit, continued unwithering, it served as an abiding proof of Aaron’s choice, and a constant token against the past, as well as a guard against future rebellion. Note, The design of God in sending his son, and in every dispensation of his grace or providence, is the salvation of his people, that they die not.

3. The people now convinced of their guilt, are ready to give up all for hell; to age are we to be bringing to extremes, and changing presumption for despair. Trembling at the rod laid up against them, they resolve not to come near the tabernacle of the Lord, or ever again challenge Aaron’s place, lest death should accomplish the ruin which he had begun. Note, It is never too late to repent; happy for us, if by experience, we are convinced of the evil and danger of sin, how down before the challenging rod, and with jealously watch and pray, that we may never again return unto fully.

CHAP.