Numbers 16-18 - Aaron’s Rod Buds

Korah Rises Up Against Moses

Num 16:3 LSB - [3] Then they assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and Yahweh is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of Yahweh?"

Num 16:8-10 LSB - [8] Then Moses said to Korah, "Hear now, you sons of Levi, [9] is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the [rest of] the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to perform the service of the tabernacle of Yahweh, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them; [10] and that He has brought you near, [Korah], and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking for the priesthood also?

Num 16:31-33 LSB - [31] And it happened that as he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; [32] and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with [their] possessions. [33] So they and all that belonged to them went down to Sheol alive; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.

Num 16:35 LSB - [35] Fire also came forth from Yahweh and consumed the 250 men who were bringing near the incense.

Grumbling and Plague

Num 16:47-49 LSB - [47] Then Aaron took [it] as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put [on] the incense and made atonement for the people. [48] And he took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked. [49] But those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah.

Aaron’s Rod Buds

Num 17:8 LSB - [8] Now it happened on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced flowers, and it bore ripe almonds.

Aaron's Rod

Author: George Richards

1 See Isr'el's tribes brought near to God;

And ev'ry prince present his rod:

Whilst one alone with blossoms blooms,

And sheds the almond's rich perfumes.

2 'Twas his, the type of him divine,

Whom thou, O Lord, hast chose as thine;

The man, the priest, the stem, the root,

Who bears for us immortal fruit.

3 Jesus, High Priest of good to come!

Thy rod, thy staff shall guide us home:

Thro' death's dark vale, we'll trust its pow'r,

Nor fear a shadow's shaded hour.

 

Responsibilities of the Levites

Num 18:6-7 LSB - [6] "And behold, I Myself have taken your brothers the Levites from among the sons of Israel; they are a gift to you, given to Yahweh, to perform the service for the tent of meeting. [7] "But you and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood in everything that concerns the altar and inside the veil, and you are to perform service. I am giving you the priesthood as a bestowed service, but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death."

The Priests’ Portion

Num 18:20 LSB - [20] Then Yahweh said to Aaron, "You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.

Num 18:24 LSB - [24] "For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they raise up as a contribution offering to Yahweh, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said concerning them, 'They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel.'"