4 Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you.
4 And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.
4 Then you shall deposit them in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.
4 Now lay them out in the Tent of Meeting in front of The Testimony where I keep appointments with you.
4 Then you shall place them in the tabernacle of meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you.
4 Place these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark containing the tablets of the Covenant, where I meet with you.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 17:4
Commentary on Numbers 17:1-7
(Read Numbers 17:1-7)
It is an instance of the grace of God, that, having wrought divers miracles to punish sin, he would work one more to prevent it. Twelve rods or staves were to be brought in. It is probable that they were the staves which the princes used as ensigns of their authority; old dry staves, that had no sap in them. They were to expect that the rod of the tribe, or prince, whom God chose to the priesthood, should bud and blossom. Moses did not object that the matter was sufficiently settled already; he did not undertake to determine it; but left the case before the Lord.