Numbers 17:2

“Speak unto the children of Israel, etc.] The principal men among them of the several tribes: and take of everyone of them; not of every individual of the people of Israel, but of their princes, as afterwards explained: a rod, according to the house of [their] fathers; or “father”, of whom their house or tribe was called, as Reuben, Simeon, etc. this rod was either a common walking staff, as some think, or rather the ensign of their princely office and dignity, peculiar to each tribe; though some think it was now freshly cut off from an almond tree, and that all the rods were of one and the same tree; but supposing they were all of the almond kind, as Josephus f239 thinks, yet being dry rods,…”

“Compare Ezekiel 37:16 ff. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Of every one - Not of every person, but of every tribe. A rod - That staff, or rod, which the princes carried in their hands as tokens of their dignity and authority. Every man's name - Every prince's: for they being the first - born, and the chief of their tribes might above all others pretend to the priesthood, if it was communicable to any of their tribes, and besides each prince represented all his tribe: so that this was a full decision of the question. And this place seems to confirm, that not only Korah and the Levites, but also those of other tribes contested with Moses and Aaron about the priesthood, as that which belonged to all the congregation they being all holy. Numbers 17:3”

“a rod: The word matteh signifies a staff, or sceptre, which the prince or chief of each tribe bore, and which was the sign of office or royalty among almost all the people of the earth. all their princes: Num 1:5-16, 2:3-30, Num 10:14-27 twelve rods: Gen 49:10; Exo 4:2, Exo 4:17; Psa 110:2, Psa 125:3; Eze 19:14, Eze 21:10, Eze 21:13; Eze 37:16-20; Mic 7:14 Numbers 17:3”