Numbers 17 - Introduction

Chapter 17 The Rod That Budded.

In Numbers 16 the question has been dealt with as to who could act as a mediator between Israel and God in the offering of incense. Now the further question is dealt with as to who may enter the Holy Place.

b). Who Has The Right To Enter The Sanctuary? - Issues of Life and Death Evidenced By The Rod That Budded (chapter 17).

Here those with the right to enter the Sanctuary are determined once and for all as the sons of Aaron. We are given no background to the incident, although it may well have followed not long after the preceding event, and is clearly connected with it.

This is the third in the trio of incidents which confirm the Aaronic priesthood, the first two of which overlap. Each of them covers two days (Numbers 16:1; Numbers 17:1), and each of them ends with the thought of the people being consumed (Numbers 16:21; Numbers 16:45; Numbers 17:13).

a Yahweh commands each tribe to lay a rod before Him in the Tent of Testimony one for each head of their father's house (Numbers 17:1).

b The rods to be laid up in the Tent of meeting before the Testimony (Numbers 17:4).

c The rod of the chosen one will bud and put an end to murmuring (Numbers 17:5).

d All the chieftains give rods including Aaron (Numbers 17:6).

d The rods are placed in the Tent of Testimony (Numbers 17:7).

c Aaron's Rod buds and flowers in the Tent of Testimony, and the budded and unbudded rods are revealed to all the people who look on them (so that murmuring will cease) (Numbers 17:8).

b Aaron's rod is laid up ‘before the Testimony' to put an end to their murmuring (Numbers 17:10).

a The people recognise that none but Aaron's house may enter the Tabernacle for they alone can enter the Sanctuary and live, and the rod which is evidence for the fact is laid up before the Testimony (Numbers 17:12).