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About this chapterTo end the grumbling over who may serve as priest, God tells Moses to collect a staff from each tribe's leader, with Aaron's name on the staff of Levi, and to place them before the ark overnight. In the morning Aaron's staff has sprouted, blossomed and produced ripe almonds. Moses shows the people, and Aaron's staff is kept before the ark as a sign for rebels. The Israelites, shaken, cry out that they are doomed if anyone who approaches the tabernacle dies. The sign settles the question of priestly authority through God's own act.

To end the grumbling over who may serve as priest, God tells Moses to collect a staff from each tribe's leader, with Aaron's name on the staff of Levi, and to place them before the ark overnight. In the morning Aaron's staff has sprouted, blossomed and produced ripe almonds. Moses shows the people, and Aaron's staff is kept before the ark as a sign for rebels. The Israelites, shaken, cry out that they are doomed if anyone who approaches the tabernacle dies. The sign settles the question of priestly authority through God's own act.

Themes

  • A staff that blossoms
  • God confirms his choice
  • Fear of approaching God

Key verses

Audio Bible · Numbers 17

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Numbers 17

Berean Standard Bible13 verses · 1 min read

1And the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff, 3and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe. 4Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you. 5The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.” 6So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff—one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron’s staff was among them. 7Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony. 8The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds. 9Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff. 10The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.” 11So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him. 12Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost! 13Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”

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Verses in Numbers 17

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