Numbers 17:1

And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
- New American Standard Version (1995)

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
- American Standard Version (1901)

And the Lord said to Moses,
- Basic English Bible

And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,
- Darby Bible

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
- Webster's Bible

Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
- World English Bible

And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,
- Youngs Literal Bible

(17:16) And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:
- Jewish Publication Society Bible

Wesley's Notes for Numbers 17:1

17:2 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.

17:3 Aaron's name - Rather than Levi's, for that would have left the controversy undecided between Aaron and the other Levites, whereas this would justify the appropriation of the priesthood to Aaron's family. One rod - There shall be in this, as there is in all the other tribes, only one rod, and that for the head of their tribe, who is Aaron in this tribe: whereas it might have been expected that there should have been two rods, one for Aaron, and another for his competitors of the same tribe. But Aaron's name was sufficient to determine both the tribe, and that branch or family of the tribe, to whom this dignity should be affixed.