---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Numbers 17"
description: "CHAPTER 17   :-. AARON"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/numbers/17"
---

CHAPTER 17

. AARON'S ROD
FLOURISHES.

**2-5. Speak unto the children of
Israel**—The controversy with Moses and Aaron about the
priesthood was of such a nature and magnitude as required a decisive
and authoritative settlement. For the removal of all doubts and the
silencing of all murmuring in the future regarding the holder of the
office, a miracle was wrought of a remarkable character and permanent
duration; and in the manner of performing it, all the people were
made to have a direct and special interest.
**take of every one . . .
princes . . . twelve rods**—As the princes, being the oldest sons
of the chief family, and heads of their tribes, might have advanced
the best claims to the priesthood, if that sacred dignity was to be
shared among all the tribes, they were therefore selected, and being
twelve in number—that of Joseph being counted only one—Moses was
ordered to see that the name of each was inscribed—a practice
borrowed from the Egyptians—upon his rod or wand of office. The
name of Aaron rather than of Levi was used, as the latter name would
have opened a door of controversy among the Levites; and as there was
to be one rod only for the head of each tribe, the express
appointment of a rod for Aaron determined him to be the head of that
tribe, as well as that branch or family of the tribe to which the
priestly dignity should belong. These rods were to be laid in the
tabernacle close to the ark (compare [Numbers 17:10](../../../kjv/numbers/17/10);
[Hebrews 9:4](../../../kjv/hebrews/9/4)), where a divine token
was promised that would for all time terminate the dispute.

**6. the rod of Aaron was among their
rods**—either one of the twelve, or, as many suppose, a
thirteenth in the midst ([Hebrews 9:4](../../../kjv/hebrews/9/4)).
The rods were of dry sticks or wands, probably old, as transmitted
from one head of the family to a succeeding.

**8. Moses went into the
tabernacle**—being privileged to do so on this occasion by the
special command of God. And he there beheld the remarkable spectacle
of Aaron's rod—which, according to JOSEPHUS,
was a stick of an almond tree, bearing fruit in three different
stages at once—buds, blossoms, and fruit.

**10. Bring Aaron's rod again before
the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels**—For
if, after all admonitions and judgments, seconded by miracles, the
people should still rebel, they would certainly pay the penalty by
death.

**12, 13. Behold, we die, we perish**—an
exclamation of fear, both from the remembrance of former judgments,
and the apprehension of future relapses into murmuring.

**13. cometh any thing near**—that
is, nearer than he ought to do; an error into which many may fall.
Will the stern justice of God overtake every slight offense? We shall
all be destroyed. Some, however, regard this exclamation as the
symptom or a new discontent, rather than the indication of a
reverential and submissive spirit. Let us fear and sin not.

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