Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryNumbers 17

Francis D. Nichol (ed.) and contributors

Numbers 17:1

Spake unto Moses. Probably soon after the staying of the plague, so that further steps might be taken to root out completely the spirit of rebellion.

Ellen G. White

1-13. Rod Preserved as Reminder—All the remarkable changes in the rod occurred in one night, to convince them that God had positively distinguished between Aaron and the rest of the children of Israel. After this miracle of divine power, the authority of the priesthood was no longer called in question. This wonderful rod was preserved to be frequently shown to the people to remind them of the past, to prevent them from murmuring, and again calling in question to whom the priesthood rightfully belonged. After the children of Israel were fully convinced of their wrong, in unjustly accusing Moses and Aaron, as they had done, they saw their past rebellion in its true light, and they were terrified. They spake unto Moses, saying, “Behold we die, we perish; we all perish.” They are at length compelled to believe the unwelcome truth, that their fate is to die in the wilderness. After they believed that it was indeed the Lord who had said they should not enter the promised land, but should die, they then acknowledged that Moses and Aaron were right, and that they had sinned against the Lord, in rebelling against their authority. They also confessed that Korah, and those who perished with him, were sinners against the Lord and that they had justly suffered His wrath (Spiritual Gifts 4a:35, 36).

Numbers 17:2

Speak unto the children of Israel. God still recognized Moses as mediator between Himself and His people. Every one of them. Not as individuals, but as representatives of each tribe. Twelve rods. These were the official symbols of the tribal authority vested in the princes. The reference is not to rods or sticks freshly cuts from trees. The same Hebrew word is used of the staff of Judah (Gen. 38:18) and of the rod of Moses (Ex. 4:2). There were 12 tribes in addition to Levi; but there was also a rod for Aaron. Commentators disagree as to whether Joseph was counted as one tribe, or separately as Ephraim and Manasseh, or whether Aaron’s rod was in addition to the 12 for the tribal princes. Write thou. Compare Eze. 37:16. The writing may have been done with some form of ink, or was perhaps cut in. The names of the princes, one for each rod, were placed on the staves.

Numbers 17:3

Aaron’s name. Inasmuch as there was no prince to represent Levi, Moses inscribed the name of Aaron upon the rod for the tribe of Levi. Aaron alone should hold the high office to which he had been assigned. No other, even of the tribe of Levi, might aspire to that office.

Numbers 17:4

Before the testimony. This was apparently in the most holy place (see Num. 17:7– 10; Heb. 9:4). Where I will meet. Literally, “where I meet with you.” The very place where God had said He would speak with Moses (Ex. 25:22), and through him to the people.

Numbers 17:5

Make to cease. Further grumbling against Aaron would be open defiance of Jehovah.

Numbers 17:7

Before the Lord. Literally, “in the presence of Jehovah.”

Numbers 17:8

On the morrow. Moses had implicit faith in the immediate operation of divine power.

Nichol, F. D. (1978). The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary : The Holy Bible with exegetical and expository comment. Commentary Reference Series (Nu 2:2). Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association.

Tabernacle of witness. That is, the most holy place (see on v. 4). Yielded almonds. Here was evidence of God’s pleasure. The staff that had been placed there for Aaron could not have received life, germinated, brought forth bud, flower, and mature fruit if God had not imparted to it life and miraculous growth. None could doubt that a miracle had been performed.

Numbers 17:9

They looked. That is, examined the rods. Each prince identified his own staff. The evidence was clear.

Numbers 17:10

Bring Aaron’s rod again. Literally, “Cause the staff of Aaron to return.” It was to be returned to the place where the miracle had been performed (Heb. 9:4). Against the rebels. Literally, “against the children of rebellion” (see 2 Sam. 7:10; Isa. 30:9). Take away their murmurings. The people would be convinced that to oppose Moses and Aaron would be to set themselves in opposition against God. That they die not. As God had warned (see ch. 16:21, 45). King Uzziah disregarded the special privilege of the priestly tribe and was stricken with leprosy while he held a censer in his hand (2 Chron. 26:19).

Numbers 17:12

Spake unto Moses. A fitting sense of awe and fear entered into the hearts of the people and made them willing to approachMoses as the mediator chosen by God. We die. The people realized that their future safety depended upon obedience to God’s will.

Numbers 17:13

Near unto the tabernacle. Anyone, that is aside from the priests (see ch. 16:40). The people now realized that access to Jehovah, the privilege they had sought through Korah (ch. 16:3–5), might be theirs only through the mediatorship of those appointed by God. Also, they no doubt remembered the curse of ch. 14:35, that “in this wilderness they shall be consumed.”