Numbers 17
Geneva Bible 1599
Chapter overview
Numbers 17 records twelve staffs placed before the testimony, one for each tribal leader. Aaron’s staff alone sprouts, blossoms, and produces almonds, confirming the chosen priestly house. The staff is preserved as a sign intended to end repeated complaints.
Aaron’s staffPriesthoodConfirmationComplaints
1And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,
2Speake vnto the children of Israel, and take of euery one of them a rod, after the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the familie of their fathers, euen twelue rods: and thou shalt write euery mans name vpon his rod.
3And write Aarons name vpon the rod of Leui: for euery rodde shalbe for the head of the house of their fathers.
4And thou shalt put them in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, before the Arke of the Testimonie, where I wil declare my selfe to you.
5And the mans rod, whome I chuse, shall blossome: and I will make cease from mee the grudgings of the children of Israel, which grudge against you.
6Then Moses spake vnto the children of Israel, and al their princes gaue him a rod, one rod for euery Prince, according to the houses of their fathers, euen twelue rods, and the rod of Aaron was among their roddes.
7And Moses layde the rods before the Lord in the Tabernacle of the Testimonie.
8And when Moses on the morow went into the Tabernacle of the Testimonie, beholde, the rod of Aaron for the house of Leui was budded, and brought forth buddes, and brought forth blossoms, and bare ripe almondes.
9Then Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord vnto all the children of Israel: and they looked vpon them, and tooke euery man his rodde.
10After, the Lord said vnto Moses, Bring Aarons rod againe before the Testimonie to bee kept for a token to the rebellious children, and thou shalt cause their murmurings to cease from me, that they dye not.
11So Moses did as the Lord had commanded him: so did he.
12And the children of Israel spake vnto Moses, saying, Behold, we are dead, we perish, we are all lost:
13Whosoeuer commeth neere, or approcheth to the Tabernacle of the Lord, shall dye: shall we be consumed and dye?
Geneva Bible 1599 — Public Domain. Where these translations come from.