CONTEXT:
PART
4: Rebellion & Corrections
In
the fourth part it is difficult to know quite where the
jump of forty years takes place but in it we find a rebellion
and judgment but then a re-establishing of Aaron and the
Priesthood, a clarification of the role of the Levites,
and an additional set of rules that can be applied outside
the priesthood.
Ch.16:
[Action] Rebellion
-
the rebellion and judgment of Korah etc.
Ch.17:
[Action] The Lord Elevates Aaron
-
the budding of Aaron's staff
Ch.18:
[Law] Priests versus Levites
-
roles of both
Ch.19:
[Law]
Water
for Cleansing ‘Uncleanness'
-
cleansing with ashes of
a red heifer
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FRAMEWORKS:
Numbers 17: The Lord Elevates Aaron
v.1-5
The Lord instructs Moses what to do
v.6,7
Moses carries out the instructions
v.8-13
Aaron's authority is recognised
v.1-5
The Lord instructs Moses what to do
v.1
The
Lord
said to Moses,
v.2
“Speak
to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the
leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each
man on his staff.
v.3
On
the staff of Levi write Aaron's name, for there must be one staff
for the head of each ancestral tribe.
v.4
Place
them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant
law, where I meet with you.
v.5
The
staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid
myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.”
[Notes:
After this debacle and the further grumbling of the
people, it is as if the Lord says, “Very well, the people need
to see very clearly that Aaron is my chosen priest and no one
outside his family is to challenge that.” The Lord instructs that
staffs identified as being from each tribe are put overnight before
the ark in the Holy Place, the other side of the curtain from
the ark [remember access was only by the chief priest one a year]
together with Aaron's and then they will see what happens to them.]
v.6,7
Moses carries out the instructions
v.6
So
Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve
staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes,
and Aaron's staff was among them.
v.7
Moses
placed the staffs before the Lord
in the tent
of the covenant law.
[Notes:
This they do.]
v.8-13
Aaron's authority is recognised
v.8
The
next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron's staff, which
represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded,
blossomed and produced almonds.
v.9
Then
Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord
's presence
to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders
took his own staff.
v.10
The
Lord
said to Moses, “Put back Aaron's staff in front of the ark of
the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This
will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will
not die.”
v.11Moses
did just as the Lord
commanded
him.
v.12
The
Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all
lost!
v.13
Anyone
who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord
will die.
Are we all going to die?”
[Notes:
Next day, amazingly, Aaron's staff (only) has not only
budded but produced blossom AND almonds – a miracle! The point
has been made!]