John Calvin Commentary Numbers 17:8

"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)

And you shall say to them. The law is now extended to strangers—not those who were heathens, but rather those who, originating from other nations, had devoted themselves to pure religion. For if more had been allowed to them than to the genuine children of Abraham, the corruption would, as was their custom, have soon spread more widely. God, then, would not have His sanctuary defiled by foreigners, lest their liberty might make its way among the whole people.

From this latter portion, we may gather that the word “kill”²⁰⁵ which is elsewhere understood in another sense, is here confined to the sacrifices, since permission is elsewhere given to the people to eat (meat) in all their cities and villages, provided they abstain from blood. We must remember, therefore, that the question here is not about their ordinary food, but only about the victims, which were never to be offered except at the tabernacle.

²⁰⁵ In these verses (8, 9) the offering of a burnt-offering, or sacrifices, is only spoken of, from whence ) the offering of a burnt-offering, or sacrifices, is only spoken of, from whence C. appears justly to conclude that the word “kill” in appears justly to conclude that the word “kill” in ver. 3, referred merely to animals killed in sacrifice., referred merely to animals killed in sacrifice.

And it came to pass, that on the morrow. It is not without reason that the time is noted, for by no skill could it be achieved that a rod should blossom in the span of a single night. Again, all suspicion of fraud was removed by the fact that Moses departed when he had placed the rods in the sanctuary, and, returning on the next day, brought out the bundle of rods before them all. But in this respect the power of God was chiefly demonstrated: in such a short space of time not only flowers, but fruits also, were formed on a dry bough, which could only have occurred by a reversal of the order of nature. Furthermore, the time of year must be taken into account, which was not at all consistent with such maturity.

By this miracle, the dignity of the typical priesthood was undoubtedly confirmed for the ancient people under the Law. But, inasmuch as the truth itself is more excellent than its figure or image, God's intention was unquestionably to assert the priesthood of His only-begotten Son rather than that of Aaron. Therefore, the benefit derived from this miracle pertains most especially to us (“Nous appartient plus qu’aux Juifs; ” pertains to us more than to the Jews. — Fr.), so that we may embrace the Priest presented to us by God with the reverence He deserves. I pass by the frivolous allegories¹⁰⁶ in which others take delight.

Indeed, it should be abundantly sufficient for us that the power of God, which could direct the people to the Mediator, formerly appeared under a visible symbol. But when the Son of God came, whatever He then represented to their sight was spiritually revealed in Him: for not only was He a sprout (surculus) from the stem of Jesse, as He is called by Isaiah (Isaiah 11:1), and a stone hewn without the art or labor of man, under which form He was shown to Daniel (Daniel 2:34), but by His resurrection He was separated from the whole human race.

Furthermore, we must diligently observe that it is not enough for Him to obtain among us the prerogative and title of Priest, unless He holds it exclusively and indivisibly. Therefore, it is plain that His honor is torn in pieces in the Papacy by foul and intolerable sacrilege when they invent innumerable mediators.

¹⁰⁶ Corn. a Lapide reports many of these, —