Numbers 17
God settles the dispute about priestly authority by having each tribal leader place a staff in the tabernacle overnight. The staff is kept in the ark as a permanent witness against future rebellion.
NumbersChapter 17 of 3613 versesBerean Standard Bible
In this passage: MosesIsraelAaron
Read Numbers 17 and keep notes on it in Doxa's Daily Faith Steps.
And the LORD said to Moses,
“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,
and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe.
Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you.
The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”
So 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.
Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.
The 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.
Then 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.
The 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.”
So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him.
Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost!
Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”
Read next
How to Hear God’s Voice: A Practical Guide for BelieversScripture is the record of a God who speaks. This guide covers how to hear Him today and keep what He says.Cross-references for Numbers 17
“Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will reveal who belongs to Him and who is holy, and He will bring that person near to Himself. The one He chooses He will bring near to Himself.”
“Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’””
““I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard.”
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.”
“containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.”
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, licensed CC BY.
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