Números 17

Números 17

Morris - whom I shall choose. The man whom God chooses must be uniquely associated with resurrection life, as typified by the one rod out of all the rest which miraculously was restored to life. These rods were nothing but dead sticks of wood as they were placed before the Lord, yet the one "brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds" (Numbers 17:8)--all in just one night! Similarly, Paul told the pagans who worshipped many "gods" that the true God will judge the whole world by that one "man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). Thus I will lessen from upon Myself the grumblings of the sons of Israel, who are grumbling against you - “so I will rid myself of the complaints of the Israelites” (NET). It is interesting that this is the last time the word grumbling appears in Numbers. Sadly we do see them contending with Moses and Aaron in Nu 20:1-12+. You is plural indicating Moses and Aaron are recipients of the grumbling. Hamilton on will lessen says the Hebrew shakak is "Used only five times in the OT, four times in the Qal: Genesis 8:1; Jeremiah 5:26; Esther 2:1; Esther 7:10; once in the Hiphil, Numbers 17:5. In the last example the meaning is "put an end to": "This is how 'I shall put an end to' the complaints." There follows the story of the sprouting of Aaron's branch. (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament) Shakak is translated in the Lxx with the verb periaireo which literally means to take away or remove from around (peri- around). The meaning of take off something that surrounds is interesting as it suggests the sons of Israel were in a sense "surrounded" or engulfed by the sin of grumbling. God would use this miraculous sin to take it away. Bush on lessen - The Hebrew is used elsewhere in reference to the ceasing or assuaging of waters, Gen. 8:1, and also of wrath, Est. 2:1. It is here applied to the murmurings of the people, which were like raging waters. It will be observed how strikingly the Lord identifies himself with his people: “I will make to cease from me the murmurings whereby they murmur against you.” Brian Bell - The rod of the man whom I choose will blossom - is an eternal principle! There is an indissoluble connection between God’s choice & our fruitfulness.. I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit. Jn.15:16 May we say like Ephraim, “Your fruit is found in me!” Hos.14:8. Not my fruit, but Your fruit is found in me!. Remember, the fruit is 1st found in the root! As Isaiah said, “…take root downward, And bear fruit upward.” 37:31 Our Daily Homily F B Meyer The man whom I shall choose, his rod shall bud. (r.v.) There was deep significance in this method of indicating the man of God’s choice. Too many have taken God’s election as referring exclusively to their enjoyment of God’s grace and their preservation to his heavenly kingdom. Here we are taught that one of its chief results will be, and must be — buds, blossoms, and fruit. “The rod of Aaron budded and bloomed, blossomed and bare ripe almonds.” It would almost seem that spring, summer, and autumn; the promise, maturity, and fruit — were simultaneously present in that marvellous rod. So should it be in those who have been chosen in Christ to be holy. The bud of spring. — There is a perennial freshness in the true saint. He may be old in years, but his leaf is green with vernal tenderness, and there are the budding promises of richer and better things than he has yet attained. The youths faint, and are weary; but he renews his strength. The outward man decayeth, but the inward renews his youth like an eagle’s. The blossom of early summer. — There is exquisite beauty in the blossom of orchard and garden. No painter has ever yet learned God’s secret of mixing his colors. Such is the beauty of the character of the believer. Men say involuntarily, “How attractive, how beautiful!” The fruit of autumn. — That we should bear fruit is the end of Christ in our redemption and discipline. We can only do it in fellowship with Himself. He must bear it through us. “From Me is thy fruit found.” “I have chosen you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit (see word study on fruit = Karpos) should remain.” G Campbell Morgan Life Applications The man whom I shall choose, his rod shall bud.-Num. 17.5. Thus a supernatural sign was given to the people in vindication of Aaron's right to the position which he held. The reason for this was clearly stated in the words: "I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the children of Israel which they murmur against you." Mark well the form of this statement. The murmuring of the people was against Moses and Aaron, but God saw that it was murmuring against Himself. The sign was efficacious; for while the spirit of rebellion manifested itself subsequently in other ways, it may safely be said .that any complaint against the rights of the God-appointed priesthood ceased from this time. The blossoming and fruit bearing of Aaron's rod undoubtedly resulted from the direct and super-natural action of God, but it was in itself a most suggestive sign. It taught both the people and the priests that their prevailing mediation was due, not to anything inherent in themselves, but to the direct action of Jehovah through them. As the rods of the other princes were unable to bud or blossom or bear fruit of themselves, so also was that of Aaron, apart from this Divine action. The proof of authority was this manifestation of Divine appointment in life. The principle still obtains. All our fruit is from God. Its absence proves that we have no authority. Its presence proves that we have, but also that the authority is finally His, and not our own. Fruit-bearing will ever give us a sense of authority and deep humility of spirit. Numbers 17:6 Moses therefore spoke to the sons of Israel, and all their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers' households, twelve rods, with the rod of Aaron among their rods. NET Numbers 17:6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff, one for each leader, according to their tribes– twelve staffs; the staff of Aaron was among their staffs. NLT Numbers 17:6 So Moses gave the instructions to the people of Israel, and each of the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron, brought Moses a staff. ESV Numbers 17:6 Moses spoke to the people of Israel. And all their chiefs gave him staffs, one for each chief, according to their fathers' houses, twelve staffs. And the staff of Aaron was among their staffs. NIV Numbers 17:6 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. KJV Numbers 17:6 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. YLT Numbers 17:6 And Moses speaketh unto the sons of Israel, and all their princes give unto him one rod for a prince, one rod for a prince, for their fathers' house, twelve rods, and the rod of Aaron is in the midst of their rods; LXE Numbers 17:6 And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and all their chiefs gave him a rod each, for one chief a rod, according to the house of their families, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was in the midst of the rods. ASV Numbers 17:6 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. CSB Numbers 17:6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff, one for each of the leaders of their ancestral houses, 12 staffs in all. Aaron's staff was among them. NKJ Numbers 17:6 So Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. NRS Numbers 17:6 Moses spoke to the Israelites; and all their leaders gave him staffs, one for each leader, according to their ancestral houses, twelve staffs; and the staff of Aaron was among theirs. NAB Numbers 17:21 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their princes gave him staffs, twelve in all, one from each tribal prince; and Aaron's staff was with them. NJB Numbers 17:21 Moses spoke to the Israelites, and all their leaders gave him one branch each, twelve branches in all for their families; Aaron's branch was among them. GWN Numbers 17:6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites. Their leaders gave him 12 staffs, one from the leader of each of their tribes. Aaron's staff was among them. a rod apiece, for each prince one: Heb. a rod for one prince, a rod for one prince, Nu 17:2 Numbers 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MOSES OBEYS LEADERS COMPLY Moses therefore spoke to the sons of Israel, and all their leaders gave him a rod apiece - Hebrew = a rod for one leader, a rod for one leader.” Presumably this would be 12 rods from the 12 tribes plus Aaron's rod representing the tribe of Levi, for a total of 13 rods (but not everyone agrees with this interpretation). Moses does not question God's test and was undoubtedly overjoyed to hear that this miraculous sin would result in Yahweh's taking away their attitude of ingratitude and constant grumbling. Unfortunately while they did not grumble per se, they did contend (different verb riyb) with Moses and Aaron at the wilderness of Zin (and some of what they say sure sounds like grumbling to me) where Miriam died and there was no water (Nu 20:1-13+). for each leader according to their fathers' households, twelve rods, with the rod of Aaron among their rods - Surprisingly, the leaders comply with Moses' request. Whether he explained the divine test before they gave him their rods is not clear from the text. Numbers 17:7 So Moses deposited the rods before the LORD in the tent of the testimony. UBS Then Moses placed all the walking sticks before the presence of the LORD in the Tent where the covenant text was kept. NET Numbers 17:7 Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the testimony. NLT Numbers 17:7 Moses placed the staffs in the LORD's presence in the Tabernacle of the Covenant. ESV Numbers 17:7 And Moses deposited the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the testimony. NIV Numbers 17:7 Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony. KJV Numbers 17:7 And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. YLT Numbers 17:7 and Moses placeth the rods before Jehovah, in the tent of the testimony. LXE Numbers 17:7 And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness. ASV Numbers 17:7 And Moses laid up the rods before Jehovah in the tent of the testimony. CSB Numbers 17:7 Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the testimony. NKJ Numbers 17:7 And Moses placed the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. NRS Numbers 17:7 So Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the covenant. NAB Numbers 17:22 Then Moses laid the staffs down before the LORD in the tent of the commandments. NJB Numbers 17:22 Moses placed them before Yahweh in the Tent of the Testimony. GWN Numbers 17:7 Moses put the staffs in the LORD's presence in the tent of the words of God's promise. Nu 18:2 Ex 38:21 Ac 7:44 Numbers 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries TWELVE RODS PLACED BEFORE JEHOVAH So Moses deposited the rods before the LORD in the tent of the testimony - This indicates that the rods were deposited in the presence of the Shekinah glory, which would indicate that presumably the rods were placed in the Holy of Holies, but the text is not definitive. NET NOTE - The name of the tent now attests to the centrality of the ark of the covenant. Instead of the “tent of meeting” (מוֹעֵד, mo’ed) we now find the “the tent of the testimony” (הָעֵדֻת, ha’edut). Brian Bell on before the LORD - Spiritual leadership will be recognized by its life & fruitfulness, which come from being in the Holy of Holies, with God! Numbers 17:8 Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. NET Numbers 17:8 On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony– and the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted, and brought forth buds, and produced blossoms, and yielded almonds! NLT Numbers 17:8 When he went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron's staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds! ESV Numbers 17:8 On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. NIV Numbers 17:8 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. KJV Numbers 17:8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. YLT Numbers 17:8 And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that Moses goeth in unto the tent of the testimony, and lo, the rod of Aaron hath flourished for the house of Levi, and is bringing out flourishing, and doth blossom blossoms, and doth produce almonds; LXE Numbers 17:8 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi blossomed, and put forth a bud, and bloomed blossoms and produced almonds. ASV 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. CSB Numbers 17:8 The next day Moses entered the tent of the testimony and saw that Aaron's staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, formed buds, blossomed, and produced almonds! NKJ Numbers 17:8 Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds. NRS Numbers 17:8 When Moses went into the tent of the covenant on the next day, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted. It put forth buds, produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds. NAB Numbers 17:8 The next day, when Moses entered the tent, Aaron's staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth not only shoots, but blossoms as well, and even bore ripe almonds! NJB Numbers 17:8 On the following day Moses went to the Tent of the Testimony and there, already sprouting, was Aaron's branch, representing the House of Levi; buds had formed, flowers had bloomed and almonds had already ripened. GWN Numbers 17:8 The next day Moses went into the tent. He found that Aaron's staff for the tribe of Levi had not only begun to grow, but it had also blossomed and produced ripe almonds. Sprouted: Nu 17:5 Ge 40:10 Ps 110:2 132:17,18 Song 2:3 Isa 4:2 Eze 17:24 Eze 19:12,14 Joh 15:1-6 Numbers 17 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Almond Tree Sprouting AARON'S ROD PASSES THE TEST MIRACULOUSLY BUDDING AND BEARING Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony - Note the phrase the next day. Why would that be important? This would serve to substantiate that this was indeed miraculous for no rod of dead wood would sprout and bring forth ripe almonds overnight, not unless God the Creator of all life was behind the scenes and controlled the scenes He was behind! And behold This introduces a dramatic revelation. "Here too the deictic (= showing or pointing out directly) particle (“and behold”) is added to draw attention to the sight in a vivid way." (NET) Behold (02009)(hinneh) is an interjection meaning behold, look, now; if. "It is used often and expresses strong feelings, surprise, hope, expectation, certainty, thus giving vividness depending on its surrounding context." (Baker) Hinneh generally directs our mind to the text, imploring the reader to give it special attention. In short, the Spirit is trying to arrest our attention! And so hinneh is used as an exclamation of vivid immediacy.