Numbers 17:2 - “Speak to the children of Israel, and take rods from them, one for each fathers’ house, of all their princes according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Numbers 17:2" mean?
This verse is part of the story in Numbers 17 where the Israelites are questioning Moses's and Aaron's authority. To prove that God had indeed chosen Aaron and his descendants to be priests, God commands Moses to perform a test using rods (staves or walking sticks).
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"Speak to the children of Israel...": This is God instructing Moses to speak to the Israelites.
"...and take rods from them, one for each fathers’ house...": God is telling Moses to collect a rod from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. A "father's house" refers to the head of each tribal family line.
"...of all their princes according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods.": These rods are to be taken from the leaders (princes) representing each tribe, again emphasizing the significance of the representatives of each tribal family. The number twelve corresponds to the twelve tribes of Israel.
"Write each man’s name on his rod.": Each leader's name should be inscribed on their respective rod. This is important for identification and to link each rod to a specific tribe and its representative.
Purpose of the Instruction
The main purpose of this verse is to set up a divine test to confirm God's chosen leader:
To Address Doubt: The Israelites were questioning Aaron's authority as the high priest. This test aimed to resolve those doubts and show them that God had indeed chosen him.
Divine Selection: The rod that miraculously budded (as described in the subsequent verses) would be a clear sign of God's favor and selection.
Symbolic Representation: The rod itself symbolizes authority and leadership. The miraculous budding would show that God was the source of true authority.
In essence, this verse establishes the method for a divinely orchestrated contest where God would select the one he had chosen for the priesthood. The rods, the names, and the tribal representation all contribute to the significance and legitimacy of this test.
Numbers 17:2 - “Speak to the children of Israel, and take rods from them, one for each fathers’ house, of all their princes according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod.
What does "Numbers 17:2" mean?
This verse is part of the story in Numbers 17 where the Israelites are questioning Moses's and Aaron's authority. To prove that God had indeed chosen Aaron and his descendants to be priests, God commands Moses to perform a test using rods (staves or walking sticks).
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"Speak to the children of Israel...": This is God instructing Moses to speak to the Israelites.
"...and take rods from them, one for each fathers’ house...": God is telling Moses to collect a rod from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. A "father's house" refers to the head of each tribal family line.
"...of all their princes according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods.": These rods are to be taken from the leaders (princes) representing each tribe, again emphasizing the significance of the representatives of each tribal family. The number twelve corresponds to the twelve tribes of Israel.
"Write each man’s name on his rod.": Each leader's name should be inscribed on their respective rod. This is important for identification and to link each rod to a specific tribe and its representative.
Purpose of the Instruction
The main purpose of this verse is to set up a divine test to confirm God's chosen leader:
To Address Doubt: The Israelites were questioning Aaron's authority as the high priest. This test aimed to resolve those doubts and show them that God had indeed chosen him.
Divine Selection: The rod that miraculously budded (as described in the subsequent verses) would be a clear sign of God's favor and selection.
Symbolic Representation: The rod itself symbolizes authority and leadership. The miraculous budding would show that God was the source of true authority.
In essence, this verse establishes the method for a divinely orchestrated contest where God would select the one he had chosen for the priesthood. The rods, the names, and the tribal representation all contribute to the significance and legitimacy of this test.