Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Numbers Chapter 17
Overview
Num 17:1, Aaron,s rod, among all the rods of the tribes, only flourishes; Num 17:10, It is left for a monument against the rebels.
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
Num 3:2, Num 3:3, Num 18:1, Num 18:7; Exo 6:16, Exo 6:20
Exo 25:16-22, Exo 29:42, Exo 29:43, Exo 30:6, Exo 30:36
Whom I: Num 16:5
blossom: Num 17:8; Isa 5:24, Isa 11:1, Isa 27:6, Isa 35:1, Isa 35:2; Hos 14:5
I will: Num 17:10; Isa 13:11; Eze 16:41, Eze 23:27
they murmur: Num 16:11
a rod apiece, for each prince one: Heb. a rod for one prince, a rod for one prince, Num 17:2
the rod of Aaron: This fact was so unquestionably miraculous, that no doubt could remain on the minds of the people, or the envious chiefs, of the divine appointment of Aaron, and as there were buds, blossoms, and fruit on the rod at the same time, which was never the case with branches in the natural and ordinary course, this evidently proved the miracle, and took away all suspicion of the fraud which has been impiously suggested, that Moses had taken away Aaron's rod in the night time, and put a living branch of an almond tree in the room of it. A sceptre or staff of office resuming its vegetative life, was considered an absolute impossibility among the ancients; and as they were accustomed to swear by their sceptres, this circumstance was added to confirm the oath.
budded: Num 17:5; Gen 40:10; Psa 110:2, Psa 132:17, Psa 132:18; Sol 2:3; Isa 4:2; Eze 17:24; Eze 19:12, Eze 19:14; Joh 15:1-6
Bring Aaron's: Heb 9:4
for a token: Num 16:38, Num 16:40; Exo 16:32; Deu 31:19-26
rebels: Heb. children of rebellion, Sa1 2:12, Sa1 30:22; Psa 57:4; Isa 1:2; Hos 10:9; Eph 2:2, Eph 2:3, Eph 5:6
and thou: Num 17:5
Behold: Num 26:11; Psa 90:7; Pro 19:3; Isa 57:16; Heb 12:5
we die: Gawanoo, "we expire:" it signifies not so much to die simply, as to feel an extreme difficulty in breathing, which producing suffocation, ends at last in death. See the folly and extravagance of this sinful people, in thus rebelling against the authority of those whom Jehovah had appointed to be their rulers.
Whosoever: Num 1:51-53, Num 18:4-7
any thing: Gen 3:3; Sa1 6:19-21; Sa2 6:6-12; Ch1 13:11-13, Ch1 15:13; Psa 130:3, Psa 130:4; Act 5:5, Act 5:11-14; Eph 2:13; Heb 10:19-22
consumed: Num 16:26, Num 32:13; Deu 2:16; Job 34:14, Job 34:15; Psa 90:7; Isa 28:22