Numbers 17
17
God Proves Aaron Is the High Priest
1The Lord said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites. Get twelve wooden walking sticks from them. Get one from the leader of each of the twelve tribes. Write the name of each man on his walking stick. 3On the stick from Levi, write Aaron’s name. There must be one stick for the head of each of the twelve tribes. 4Put these walking sticks in the Meeting Tent in front of the Box of the Agreement. This is the place where I meet with you. 5I will choose one man to be the true priest. You will know which man I choose because his walking stick will begin to grow new leaves. In this way I will stop the people from always complaining against you and me.”
6So Moses spoke to the Israelites. Each of the leaders gave him a walking stick. There were twelve walking sticks. There was one stick from each leader of each tribe. One of the walking sticks belonged to Aaron. 7Moses put the walking sticks before the Lord in the Tent of the Agreement.
8The next day Moses entered the Tent. He saw that Aaron’s walking stick, the stick from the family of Levi, was the one that had grown new leaves. That walking stick had even grown branches and made almonds. 9So Moses brought out all the sticks from the Lord’s place. He showed the walking sticks to the Israelites. They all looked at the sticks, and each man took his own stick back.
10Then the Lord said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s walking stick back in front of the Box that holds the Agreement.#17:10 Box that holds the Agreement Literally, “Testimony.” See “Agreement” in the Word List. This will be a warning for these people who are always turning against me. This will stop their complaining against me so that I will not destroy them.” 11So Moses did what the Lord commanded him.
12The Israelites said to Moses, “We know that we will die! We are lost! We will all be destroyed! 13Anyone who even comes near the Lord’s holy place will die. Is it true that we will all die?”
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Numbers 17
17
The Budding of Aaron’s Staff
1 # 17:1 Verses 17:1-13 are numbered 17:16-28 in Hebrew text. Then the Lord said to Moses, 2“Tell the people of Israel to bring you twelve wooden staffs, one from each leader of Israel’s ancestral tribes, and inscribe each leader’s name on his staff. 3Inscribe Aaron’s name on the staff of the tribe of Levi, for there must be one staff for the leader of each ancestral tribe. 4Place these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark containing the tablets of the Covenant,#17:4 Hebrew in the Tent of Meeting before the Testimony. The Hebrew word for “testimony” refers to the terms of the Lord’s covenant with Israel as written on stone tablets, which were kept in the Ark, and also to the covenant itself. where I meet with you. 5Buds will sprout on the staff belonging to the man I choose. Then I will finally put an end to the people’s murmuring and complaining against you.”
6So Moses gave the instructions to the people of Israel, and each of the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron, brought Moses a staff. 7Moses placed the staffs in the Lord’s presence in the Tabernacle of the Covenant.#17:7 Or Tabernacle of the Testimony; also in 17:8. 8When 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!
9When Moses brought all the staffs out from the Lord’s presence, he showed them to the people. Each man claimed his own staff. 10And the Lord said to Moses: “Place Aaron’s staff permanently before the Ark of the Covenant#17:10 Hebrew before the Testimony; see note on 17:4. to serve as a warning to rebels. This should put an end to their complaints against me and prevent any further deaths.” 11So Moses did as the Lord commanded him.
12Then the people of Israel said to Moses, “Look, we are doomed! We are dead! We are ruined! 13Everyone who even comes close to the Tabernacle of the Lord dies. Are we all doomed to die?”
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