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Numbers 17:4

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 17:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And thou shalt lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And thou shalt lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.
Numbers 17:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 17

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers` house, of all their princes according to their fathers` houses, twelve rods: write thou every man`s name upon his rod.
3And thou shalt write Aaron`s name upon the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers` houses.
4And thou shalt lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.
5And it shall come to pass, that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you.
6And Moses spake unto the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers` houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.
7And Moses laid up the rods before Jehovah in the tent of the testimony.
← Numbers 17:3Numbers 17:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation, etc.] In the most holy place: before the testimony; that is, the ark in which the testimony or the law was; here they were laid as in the presence of God, who was in a miraculous way to decide the controversy by them, and put an end to it; for upon the ark was the mercy seat, over which were the cherubim, the seat of the divine Majesty, and where none could come at them, and where no fraud could be supposed to be committed: where I will meet with you; not with the people in person, who might not go at any time into the most holy place; nor with Aaron, who only might go into it on the day of atonement; but with Moses, the chief…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Before the testimony - See Numbers 17:10 note. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Before the testimony - That is, before the ark of the testimony, close by the ark. I will meet with you - And manifest my mind to you, for the ending of this dispute. Numbers 17:6”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“17:4 The staffs were in the Lord’s presence (17:7), a safe spot where no one would tamper with them.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Exo 25:16-22, Exo 29:42, Exo 29:43, Exo 30:6, Exo 30:36 Numbers 17:5”
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Related study paths

Read Numbers 17 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification