Numbers 17

2 rods. These “rods,” or staves, were, no doubt, carried by the “princes” as symbols of authority; and as they were always made of well-seasoned and durable wood, this miracle would be the more striking. The budding of such a staff is used by ancient poets to represent an absolute impossibility.

4. I will meet. Rather, “I meet” customarily, as R.V.

9 every man his rod. Every one evidently recognised his own.

10 before the Testimony. i.e., in the ark, in front of the Tables of the Law (Heb. ix. 4). The rod was lost before the building of the Temple (1 Kings viii. 9).

13 cometh anything near. Heb., “cometh near, cometh near,” i.e., in any degree maketh the least approach.