Numbers 17:3 On the staff of Levi write Aaron's name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe.

◄ Numbers 17:3 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
On the staff of Levi write Aaron's name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe.

English Standard Version
and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi. For there shall be one staff for the head of each fathers’ house.

New American Standard Bible
and write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi; for there is one rod for the head of each of their fathers' households.

King James Bible
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Write Aaron's name on Levi's staff, because there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral house.

International Standard Version
You are also to write Aaron's name on the tribe of Levi, since there is to be one rod for every leader of their ancestral tribes.

American Standard Version
And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers houses.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the name of Aaron shall be for the tribe of Levi, and one rod shall contain all their families:

Darby Bible Translation
And Aaron's name shalt thou write upon the staff of Levi; for one staff shall be for each head of their fathers' houses.

Young's Literal Translation
and Aaron's name thou dost write on the tribe of Levi; for one rod is for the head of their fathers' house:

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

17:1-7 It is an instance of the grace of God, that, having wrought divers miracles to punish sin, he would work one more to prevent it. Twelve rods or staves were to be brought in. It is probable that they were the staves which the princes used as ensigns of their authority; old dry staves, that had no sap in them. They were to expect that the rod of the tribe, or prince, whom God chose to the priesthood, should bud and blossom. Moses did not object that the matter was sufficiently settled already; he did not undertake to determine it; but left the case before the Lord.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

2-5. Speak unto the children of Israel—The controversy with Moses and Aaron about the priesthood was of such a nature and magnitude as required a decisive and authoritative settlement. For the removal of all doubts and the silencing of all murmuring in the future regarding the holder of the office, a miracle was wrought of a remarkable character and permanent duration; and in the manner of performing it, all the people were made to have a direct and special interest.

take of every one … princes … twelve rods—As the princes, being the oldest sons of the chief family, and heads of their tribes, might have advanced the best claims to the priesthood, if that sacred dignity was to be shared among all the tribes, they were therefore selected, and being twelve in number—that of Joseph being counted only one—Moses was ordered to see that the name of each was inscribed—a practice borrowed from the Egyptians—upon his rod or wand of office. The name of Aaron rather than of Levi was used, as the latter name would have opened a door of controversy among the Levites; and as there was to be one rod only for the head of each tribe, the express appointment of a rod for Aaron determined him to be the head of that tribe, as well as that branch or family of the tribe to which the priestly dignity should belong. These rods were to be laid in the tabernacle close to the ark (compare Nu 17:10 and Heb 9:4), where a divine token was promised that would for all time terminate the dispute.