Numbers 17 - Introduction

[Heb. 17: 16 28]

The blossoming of Aaron's staff

The challenge to Korah and his company to burn incense had produced results which should have proved conclusively that their overweening claim was wrong. But the congregation only murmured that Moses and Aaron had -killed the people of Jehovah"; and a terrible punishment had been sent them for their murmuring. But now Jehovah arranges for a proof of the superiority of the Levites to the other tribes, more conclusive, if possible, than the last. In the arrangement of the camp there were thirteen tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh (the house of Joseph) being reckoned as two. Each of the tribes was represented by a chief, who was bidden to present a staff with his name inscribed upon it. And the superiority of the tribe of Levi was proved by the blossoming of the staff of Aaron its chief.