Numbers 17, The Sign of Aaron's Staff

(This DRAFT study has been done fairly quickly, without the further guide of commentaries. I hope to improve on it later.)

The rebellion of Korah has led to punishment by earthquake, fire and plague.

Numbers 17:1-5, One chosen by a sign

The LORD said to Moses,"Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. On the staff of Levi write Aaron's name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. Place them in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you. The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites."

The staff of the chosen man will sprout. As all the staffs were presumably dead wood, this will be an obvious sign that that individual was chosen by God.

Numbers 17:6-9, Aaron's staff blooms

So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron's staff was among them. Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.

The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD's presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each man took his own staff.
  

Aaron's staff not only sprouts, but then buds, blossoms and even produces fruit, that is, almonds. Nothing happens to the other staffs.

Numbers 17:10-13, A sign for those who are rebellious

The LORD said to Moses, "Put back Aaron's staff in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die."

 Moses did just as the LORD commanded him. The Israelites said to Moses, "We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to die?"

Aaron's blossomed staff now becomes a reminder, a sign for those who might think about rebellion. The people find this frightening and are worried that more people will die for their rebellion. Certainly they know to stay away from the tabernacle.

First published September 19, 2025; updated September 19, 2025