📖 Numbers — Chapter 17 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Numbers 17:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 17:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers Rtwelve rods: write thou every man’s name upon his rod.
Numbers 17:3 And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
Numbers 17:4 And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.
Numbers 17:5 And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, Rwhom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
Numbers 17:6 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him Ta rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.
Numbers 17:7 And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.
Numbers 17:8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was Rbudded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.
Numbers 17:9 And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.
Numbers 17:10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept Rfor a token against the Trebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
Numbers 17:11 And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.
Numbers 17:12 And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, RBehold, we die, we perish, we all perish.
Numbers 17:13 RWhosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 17:1–5 — Rods before the LORD
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The LORD directs the tribal princes to provide rods marked with their names, with Aaron's name on Levi's rod. The rod of the chosen man will blossom. The sign is appointed to end the people's murmuring against the leaders.
Key Truth: The LORD appoints a visible sign of his choice.
Check What You Remember
1. What objects were the princes to provide? (Numbers 17:2)
Find it in Numbers 17:2 (KJV).
2. Whose name was written on Levi's rod? (Numbers 17:3)
Find it in Numbers 17:3 (KJV).
3. What would the chosen man's rod do? (Numbers 17:5)
Find it in Numbers 17:5 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 17:6–9 — Aaron's Rod Blossoms
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The rods are placed before the LORD. On the next day Aaron's rod for Levi has buds, blossoms, and almonds. Moses brings out the rods for Israel to see, and each prince takes his rod.
Key Truth: The recorded sign identifies Aaron's rod for the house of Levi.
Check What You Remember
1. Whose rod blossomed? (Numbers 17:8)
Find it in Numbers 17:8 (KJV).
2. What nuts did it yield? (Numbers 17:8)
Find it in Numbers 17:8 (KJV).
3. Who brought out the rods for Israel to see? (Numbers 17:9)
Find it in Numbers 17:9 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 17:10–13 — The Rod Kept as a Token
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The LORD tells Moses to return Aaron's rod before the testimony as a token against the rebels, to stop their murmuring. Moses obeys. Israel responds with alarm about drawing near the tabernacle, setting the context for the following instructions about sanctuary responsibility.
Key Truth: The sign is preserved as a reminder concerning rebellion and sanctuary service.
Check What You Remember
1. Whose rod was to be kept? (Numbers 17:10)
Find it in Numbers 17:10 (KJV).
2. Before what was it to be kept? (Numbers 17:10)
Find it in Numbers 17:10 (KJV).
3. Did Moses do as the LORD commanded? (Numbers 17:11)
Find it in Numbers 17:11 (KJV).
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How do names and fathers’ houses make the rod test representative?
2. How is the promised sign tied to ending the complaint?
3. How does Aaron’s rod’s condition exceed merely showing a new shoot?
4. How does Moses make the outcome available for inspection?
5. How does retaining Aaron’s rod extend the sign’s purpose beyond that morning?
Notes
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