Albert Barnes Commentary Numbers 17
Albert Barnes Commentary
Numbers 17
Albert Barnes Commentary
Numbers 17
"Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers` house, of all their princes according to their fathers` houses, twelve rods: write thou every man`s name upon his rod." — Numbers 17:2 (ASV)
Compare Ezekiel 37:16 and following.
"And thou shalt write Aaron`s name upon the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers` houses." — Numbers 17:3 (ASV)
Thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi - The Levites had taken part in the late outbreak. It was therefore necessary to vindicate the supremacy of the house of Aaron over them; and accordingly his name was written on the rod of Levi, although being the son of Kohath, the second son of Levi (Exodus 6:16 and following), he would not be the natural head of the tribe.
"And thou shalt lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you." — Numbers 17:4 (ASV)
Before the testimony - See Numbers 17:10 note.
"And Moses spake unto the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers` houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods." — Numbers 17:6 (ASV)
The whole number of rods was twelve exclusive of Aaron’s, as the Vulgate expressly states.
"And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and produced blossoms, and bare ripe almonds." — Numbers 17:8 (ASV)
Yielded almonds – “Ripened almonds,” that is, “brought forth ripe almonds.” The name almond in Hebrew denotes the “waking-tree” and the “waking-fruit”; and it is applied to this tree because it blossoms early in the season. It serves here, as in Jeremiah 1:11-12, to set forth the speed and certainty with which, at God’s will, His purposes are accomplished.
So again, the blossoming and bearing of Aaron’s rod—naturally impotent when severed from the parent tree—may signify the profitableness (due to God’s appointment and blessing) of the various means of grace (for example, the priesthood, the sacraments). For these means, of themselves and apart from Him, could have no such efficacy. Compare Isaiah 4:2; Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 53:2; Jeremiah 33:5; Zechariah 6:12.
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