Chapter 17

2
a rod The word matteh signifies a staff, or sceptre, which the prince or chief of each tribe bore, and which was the sign of office or royalty among almost all the people of the earth.

all their princes Num 1:5-16, Num 2:3-30, Num 10:14-27

twelve rods Gen 49:10; Exod 4:2, Exod 4:17; Ps 110:2, Ps 125:3; Ezek 19:14, Ezek 21:10, Ezek 21:13; Ezek 37:16-20; Mic 7:14


3
Num 3:2-3, Num 18:1, Num 18:7; Exod 6:16, Exod 6:20


4
Exod 25:16-22, Exod 29:42-43, Exod 30:6, Exod 30:36


5
Whom I Num 16:5

blossom Num 17:8; Isa 5:24, Isa 11:1, Isa 27:6, Isa 35:1-2; Hos 14:5

I will Num 17:10; Isa 13:11; Ezek 16:41, Ezek 23:27

they murmur Num 16:11


6
a rod apiece, for each prince one Heb. a rod for one prince, a rod for one prince, Num 17:2


7
Num 18:2; Exod 38:21; Acts 7:44


8
the rod of Aaron This fact was so unquestionably miraculous, that no doubt could remain on the minds of the people, or the envious chiefs, of the divine appointment of Aaron, and as there were buds, blossoms, and fruit on the rod at the same time, which was never the case with branches in the natural and ordinary course, this evidently proved the miracle, and took away all suspicion of the fraud which has been impiously suggested, that Moses had taken away Aaron's rod in the night time, and put a living branch of an almond tree in the room of it. A sceptre or staff of office resuming its vegetative life, was considered an absolute impossibility among the ancients; and as they were accustomed to swear by their sceptres, this circumstance was added to confirm the oath.

budded Num 17:5; Gen 40:10; Ps 110:2, Ps 132:17-18; Song 2:3; Isa 4:2; Ezek 17:24; Ezek 19:12, Ezek 19:14; John 15:1-6


10
Bring Aaron's Heb 9:4

for a token Num 16:38, Num 16:40; Exod 16:32; Deut 31:19-26

rebels Heb. children of rebellion, 1Sam 2:12, 1Sam 30:22; Ps 57:4; Isa 1:2; Hos 10:9; Eph 2:2-3, Eph 5:6

and thou Num 17:5


12
Behold Num 26:11; Ps 90:7; Prov 19:3; Isa 57:16; Heb 12:5

we die Gawanoo, "we expire:" it signifies not so much to die simply, as to feel an extreme difficulty in breathing, which producing suffocation, ends at last in death. See the folly and extravagance of this sinful people, in thus rebelling against the authority of those whom Jehovah had appointed to be their rulers.


13
Whosoever Num 1:51-53, Num 18:4-7

any thing Gen 3:3; 1Sam 6:19-21; 2Sam 6:6-12; 1Chr 13:11-13, 1Chr 15:13; Ps 130:3-4; Acts 5:5, Acts 5:11-14; Eph 2:13; Heb 10:19-22

consumed Num 16:26, Num 32:13; Deut 2:16; Job 34:14-15; Ps 90:7; Isa 28:22


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