13 Whosoever cometh any thing near H7131 unto the tabernacle H4908 of the LORD H3068 shall die: H4191 shall we be consumed H8552 with dying? H1478
For because ye did it not at the first, H7223 the LORD H3068 our God H430 made a breach H6555 upon us, for that we sought H1875 him not after the due order. H4941
Having G2192 therefore, G3767 brethren, G80 boldness G3954 to G1519 enter G1529 into the holiest G39 by G1722 the blood G129 of Jesus, G2424 By a new G4372 and G2532 living G2198 way, G3598 which G3739 he hath consecrated G1457 for us, G2254 through G1223 the veil, G2665 that is to say, G5123 his G846 flesh; G4561 And G2532 having an high G3173 priest G2409 over G1909 the house G3624 of God; G2316 Let us draw near G4334 with G3326 a true G228 heart G2588 in G1722 full assurance G4136 of faith, G4102 having G4472 our hearts G2588 sprinkled G4472 from G575 an evil G4190 conscience, G4893 and G2532 our bodies G4983 washed G3068 with pure G2513 water. G5204
And G2532 great G3173 fear G5401 came G1096 upon G1909 all G3650 the church, G1577 and G2532 upon G1909 as many as G3956 heard G191 these things. G5023 And G1161 by G1223 the hands G5495 of the apostles G652 were G1096 many G4183 signs G4592 and G2532 wonders G5059 wrought G1096 G1096 among G1722 the people; G2992 (and G2532 they were G2258 all G537 with one accord G3661 in G1722 Solomon's G4672 porch. G4745 And G1161 of the rest G3062 durst G5111 no man G3762 join himself G2853 to them: G846 but G235 the people G2992 magnified G3170 them. G846 And G1161 believers G4100 were G4369 the more G3123 added G4369 to the Lord, G2962 multitudes G4128 both G5037 of men G435 and G2532 women.) G1135
If thou, LORD, H3050 shouldest mark H8104 iniquities, H5771 O Lord, H136 who shall stand? H5975 But there is forgiveness H5547 with thee, that thou mayest be feared. H3372
For we are consumed H3615 by thine anger, H639 and by thy wrath H2534 are we troubled. H926
But of the fruit H6529 of the tree H6086 which is in the midst H8432 of the garden, H1588 God H430 hath said, H559 Ye shall not eat H398 of it, neither shall ye touch H5060 it, lest H6435 ye die. H4191
And David H1732 was displeased, H2734 because the LORD H3068 had made H6555 a breach H6556 upon Uzza: H5798 wherefore that place H4725 is called H7121 Perezuzza H6560 to this day. H3117 And David H1732 was afraid H3372 of God H430 that day, H3117 saying, H559 How H1963 shall I bring H935 the ark H727 of God H430 home to me? So David H1732 brought H5493 not the ark H727 home to himself to the city H5892 of David, H1732 but carried it aside H5186 into the house H1004 of Obededom H5654 the Gittite. H1663
And when they came H935 to Nachon's H5225 threshingfloor, H1637 Uzzah H5798 put forth H7971 his hand to the ark H727 of God, H430 and took hold H270 of it; for the oxen H1241 shook H8058 it. And the anger H639 of the LORD H3068 was kindled H2734 against Uzzah; H5798 and God H430 smote H5221 him there for his error; H7944 and there he died H4191 by the ark H727 of God. H430 And David H1732 was displeased, H2734 because the LORD H3068 had made H6555 a breach H6556 upon Uzzah: H5798 and he called H7121 the name of the place H4725 Perezuzzah H6560 to this day. H3117 And David H1732 was afraid H3372 of the LORD H3068 that day, H3117 and said, H559 How shall the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 come H935 to me? So David H1732 would H14 not remove H5493 the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 unto him into the city H5892 of David: H1732 but David H1732 carried it aside H5186 into the house H1004 of Obededom H5654 the Gittite. H1663 And the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 continued H3427 in the house H1004 of Obededom H5654 the Gittite H1663 three H7969 months: H2320 and the LORD H3068 blessed H1288 Obededom, H5654 and all his household. H1004 And it was told H5046 king H4428 David, H1732 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 hath blessed H1288 the house H1004 of Obededom, H5654 and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark H727 of God. H430 So David H1732 went H3212 and brought up H5927 the ark H727 of God H430 from the house H1004 of Obededom H5654 into the city H5892 of David H1732 with gladness. H8057
And he smote H5221 the men H376 of Bethshemesh, H1053 because they had looked H7200 into the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 even he smote H5221 of the people H5971 fifty H2572 thousand H505 and threescore and ten H7657 men: H582 and the people H5971 lamented, H56 because the LORD H3068 had smitten H5221 many of the people H5971 with a great H1419 slaughter. H4347 And the men H582 of Bethshemesh H1053 said, H559 Who is able H3201 to stand H5975 before H6440 this holy H6918 LORD H3068 God? H430 and to whom shall he go up H5927 from us? And they sent H7971 messengers H4397 to the inhabitants H3427 of Kirjathjearim, H7157 saying, H559 The Philistines H6430 have brought again H7725 the ark H727 of the LORD; H3068 come ye down, H3381 and fetch it up H5927 to you.
So it came to pass, when all the men H582 of war H4421 were consumed H8552 and dead H4191 from among H7130 the people, H5971
And they shall be joined H3867 unto thee, and keep H8104 the charge H4931 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 for all the service H5656 of the tabernacle: H168 and a stranger H2114 shall not come nigh H7126 unto you. And ye shall keep H8104 the charge H4931 of the sanctuary, H6944 and the charge H4931 of the altar: H4196 that there be no wrath H7110 any more upon the children H1121 of Israel. H3478 And I, behold, I have taken H3947 your brethren H251 the Levites H3881 from among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 to you they are given H5414 as a gift H4979 for the LORD, H3068 to do H5647 the service H5656 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation. H4150 Therefore thou and thy sons H1121 with thee shall keep H8104 your priest's office H3550 for every thing H1697 of the altar, H4196 and within H1004 the vail; H6532 and ye shall serve: H5647 I have given H5414 your priest's office H3550 unto you as a service H5656 of gift: H4979 and the stranger H2114 that cometh nigh H7131 shall be put to death. H4191
And he spake H1696 unto the congregation, H5712 saying, H559 Depart, H5493 I pray you, from the tents H168 of these wicked H7563 men, H582 and touch H5060 nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed H5595 in all their sins. H2403
And when the tabernacle H4908 setteth forward, H5265 the Levites H3881 shall take it down: H3381 and when the tabernacle H4908 is to be pitched, H2583 the Levites H3881 shall set it up: H6965 and the stranger H2114 that cometh nigh H7131 shall be put to death. H4191 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 shall pitch their tents, H2583 every man H376 by his own camp, H4264 and every man H376 by his own standard, H1714 throughout their hosts. H6635 But the Levites H3881 shall pitch H2583 round about H5439 the tabernacle H4908 of testimony, H5715 that there be no wrath H7110 upon the congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 and the Levites H3881 shall keep H8104 the charge H4931 of the tabernacle H4908 of testimony. H5715
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Numbers 17
Commentary on Numbers 17 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 17
Nu 17:1-13. Aaron's Rod Flourishes.
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.
6. the rod of Aaron was among their rods—either one of the twelve, or, as many suppose, a thirteenth in the midst (Heb 9:4). The rods were of dry sticks or wands, probably old, as transmitted from one head of the family to a succeeding.
8. Moses went into the tabernacle—being privileged to do so on this occasion by the special command of God. And he there beheld the remarkable spectacle of Aaron's rod—which, according to Josephus, was a stick of an almond tree, bearing fruit in three different stages at once—buds, blossoms, and fruit.
10. Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels—For if, after all admonitions and judgments, seconded by miracles, the people should still rebel, they would certainly pay the penalty by death.
12, 13. Behold, we die, we perish—an exclamation of fear, both from the remembrance of former judgments, and the apprehension of future relapses into murmuring.
13. cometh any thing near—that is, nearer than he ought to do; an error into which many may fall. Will the stern justice of God overtake every slight offense? We shall all be destroyed. Some, however, regard this exclamation as the symptom or a new discontent, rather than the indication of a reverential and submissive spirit. Let us fear and sin not.