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.

And the Lord spake unto [a]Moses, saying,

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.

And write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for every rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.

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.

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.

¶ 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.

And Moses laid the rods before the Lord in the Tabernacle of the Testimony.

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.

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

  1. Numbers 17:1 While he was in the door of the Tabernacle.
  2. Numbers 17:5 To be the chief Priest.
  3. 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.
  4. Numbers 17:8 To declare that God did choose the house of Levi to serve him in the Tabernacle.
  5. Numbers 17:10 Grudging that Aaron should be high Priest.
  6. 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.

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