In the previous chapter, we saw how Korah, Dathan, and Abiram tried to take over as leaders of God’s people, Numbers 16:1-3. We also saw how the Israelites tried to challenge the leadership of Moses and Aaron, Numbers 16:41-50; on both occasions, many people lost their lives. In this chapter, we read about the confirmation of the priesthood of Aaron. This was to be done to stop any more contesting for leadership positions.
God instructs Moses to speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes and write the name of each man on his staff, Numbers 17:1-2. On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe, Numbers 17:3.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Sceptres, or staves, or walking sticks, were considered to be of the greatest importance. ‘Kings swore by them,’ and Judah was condemned by Tamar, using his ‘staff’ as invincible proof, Genesis 38:18. Esther touched only the sceptre of King Ahasuerus, but it saved her life, Esther 4:11. The Holy Messiah was identified by Zechariah as the one, above all others, who would have both a rod and a staff, a thought also echoed in the Shepherd Psalm, ‘Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me,’ Psalms 23:4.’
When the staffs were gathered together, the names of each tribe were written on them, and on Levi’s staff, the name of Aaron was written. Notice that the staff was to be placed in front of the ark of the covenant law, Numbers 17:4.
This is a reference to the two stones tablets which contained the Ten Commandments, Exodus 25:16. In the days of Solomon, there was nothing in the ark except the two tablets, 1 Kings 8:9, and so, it’s possible that Aaron’s staff was lost when the ark was taken by the Philistines.
God says the staff belonging to the man He chooses will sprout, and He will rid Himself of this constant grumbling by the Israelites, Numbers 17:5. In doing this, God would declare which tribe possessed priestly authority by choosing one of the staffs. This was the issue at hand in light of Korah’s rebellion.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘It was necessary that something further should be done to quiet the minds of the people, and forever to settle the dispute, in what tribe the priesthood should be fixed. God, therefore, took the method described in the text, and it had the desired effect; the Aaronical priesthood was never after disputed.’
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, Numbers 17:6. Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the covenant law as God told him to, Numbers 17:7 / Numbers 17:4.
Aaron’s staff was a symbol of the tribe of Levi, Numbers 17:8, and the miracle recorded here was to prove to everyone in Israel that the sons of Aaron and the Levites were chosen by God and separated from Israel for the spiritual service of the nation, Numbers 17:8.
In other words, they were not self-appointed; they were appointed by God. Almond blooms early with white blossoms, and its fruits were highly prized, Numbers 17:8 / Genesis 43:11.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following concerning the ‘sprouting of almonds’.
‘The name almond in Hebrew denotes the ‘waking-tree’, the ‘waking-fruit’ and 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, because of God’s appointment and blessing, of the various means of grace (e.g. the priesthood, the sacraments), which of themselves and apart from Him could have no such efficacy. Isaiah 4:2 / Isaiah 11:1 / Isaiah 53:2 / Jeremiah 33:5 / Zechariah 6:12.’
Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites, and they looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff, Numbers 17:9.
The staff was kept as a sign that God had appointed Aaron and his sons and the tribe of Levi to be the priestly tribe of Israel, Numbers 17:10 / Exodus 16:33-34. In other words, no one was to presume to be a high priest of Israel other than those who descended from Aaron, or they would die, Numbers 17:10.
There were three items in total, which were kept inside the ark of the covenant.
1. The two stone tablets of the Law, Exodus 25:16 / Exodus 25:21 / Hebrews 9:4.
2. Aaron’s rod that budded, Numbers 17:10 / Hebrews 9:4.
3. The golden pot of ‘hidden’ manna, Exodus 16:33 / Hebrews 9:4.
Together, these three items form the Testimony; the Ark is called the Ark of the Testimony.
Remember, Jesus is our high priest today, not because He was a descendant of Aaron, Hebrews 2:17, but because of the order of Melchizedek, Hebrews 7. Aaron’s rod that budded was a sign of God’s continued choice of Aaron as a priest, Numbers 17:5, but Aaron’s priesthood was interrupted by his death.
The Lord Jesus Christ, though, has a priesthood that is constituted with an indestructible life, Hebrews 7:16. He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, Hebrews 7:25.
Moses did just as the LORD commanded him, and it’s clear everyone took what had happened seriously. They now know if they try to rebel against God’s leadership like Korah, Dathan, and Abiram did, they too will surely die, Numbers 17:11-13.
Wouldn’t we think we’re next to be judged and die after seeing Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, along with their 250 followers, being killed? Numbers 16:35. Wouldn’t we think we’re next to be judged and die after seeing the plague which killed 14,700 of those who sympathised with Korah and his followers? Numbers 16:49.