Numbers 17:3

3 on the stick from Levi, write Aaron's name. There must be one stick for the head of each tribe.

Numbers 17:3 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 17:3

And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi
Or upon the rod that was for the tribe of Levi; the name of "Aaron" was to be written, not the word "Levi", or a "Levite", as Josephus ^F5; for that would not have decided the controversy about the priesthood, which chiefly lay between the Levites and the family of Aaron, who were of the same tribe:

for one rod [shall be] for the head of the house of their fathers;
one rod for the head or prince of every tribe, every prince representing his own tribe he was the head of, and the rod the prince; and though the tribe of Levi was divided into two families, the family of the priests, and the family of the Levites; yet, as Jarchi observes, they were but one tribe, and so one rod for them, as for the other tribes.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F5 Antiqu. l. 4. c. 4. sect. 2.

Numbers 17:3 In-Context

1 The Lord said to Moses,

2 "Speak to the people of Israel and get twelve walking sticks from them -- one from the leader of each tribe. Write the name of each man on his stick, and

3 on the stick from Levi, write Aaron's name. There must be one stick for the head of each tribe.

4 Put them in the Meeting Tent in front of the Ark of the Agreement, where I meet with you.

5 I will choose one man whose walking stick will begin to grow leaves; in this way I will stop the Israelites from always complaining against you."