hands, as appeareth by Num. 21. 18. And with this may be compared that in Ezek. 37. 16, 17. &c. where the Prophet wrote the names of tribes upon sticks, which were joyned together as one in his hand, to signifie the uniting of the divided tribes. the house] that is, as the Greeke expoundeth it, the houses: see the notes on Num. 1. 2.
Vers. 3. for one rod shall be] The Greeke explai∣neth it thus; for it is one rod: according to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [unspec 3] of their fathers house shall they give. The tribe of Le∣vi, though they were distinguished into Priests and Levites; yet as all came by one father Levi, so one rod was for them all. So Iarchi here expoundeth it, Although I have divided them into two families, the familie of the Priests and the familie of the Le∣vites; notwithstanding it is one tribe. Of this their division, see Num. 3. and 18. 1.—7.
Vers. 4. lay them up] or, leave them, or as the Greeke translateth, put them. Tent of the congre∣gation] [unspec 4] or, Tent of meeting. the Testimonie] that is, the A••ke, wherein the Tables of the Law, (cal∣led the Testimonie) were kept. See the notes on Exod. 25. 16. where I will meet] that is, where I use to meet with you; according to the promise in Exod. 25 22. and 30 36 And this is the rea∣son why the Tabernacle was called the Tent of meeting, or of congregation.
Vers. 5. I shall chuse] that i••, shall like of, and ap∣prove to administer the priesthood; as in Targum [unspec 5] Ionathan this is added to minister before me. rod shall bud] or, shall flourish: see vers. 8. will make to cease from me] in Greeke, will take away from thee. This word is spoken of the ceasing or asswa∣ging of waters, Gen. 8. 1. and of wrath, Esth. 2. 1. and is here applied to the murmurings of the peo∣ple, which were like raging waters, fo••ing out their owneshame.
Vers. 8. blessomes] or flowers. yeelded] or, ripened (as the word is Englished, in Esai. 18. 5.) that is, [unspec 8] brought forth ripe almonds. almonds] 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Greeke, & in Targum Ionathan, Nuts. An almond, in Hebrew, Shaked, is named Shaked, which signifieth with care, haste & watchfulnesse, to looke unto and per∣forme a thing. And because the almond tree blos∣someth and beareth fruit sooner than other trees, therefore hath it this name. And Solomon for the same cause, likeneth the white haires which soone grow upon us in age, to the flourishing of the Al∣mond tree, Eccles. 12. 5. By this miracle, God did confirme the Priesthood unto Aaron; as by the vi∣sion of the vine-branches budding, bloss••ming, & bringing forth ripe grapes, &c. hee signified the confirmation of office unto Pharaohs butler, Gen. 40. 10.—13. He signified further by the buds, the continuance and propagation of the Priesthood to his posteritie; who should sprout and grow out of him, by the blessing of God, who maketh the crie tree to bud (or flourish,) Ezek. 17. 24. as also it is prophesied of the church, He shall cause them that come of Iakob, to take root; Israel shall blessome and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit, Esat. 27. 6. And the originall word for buds, is also use•• for younglings or youth; as in Iob 30. 12. The bles soming (or flourishing) of this rod, figured also the comfortable and glorious effect of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉∣tion of the Priests office: as Christ is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 forth ••t the window, flourishing there•• the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Serg 2. 9. that we all with open face may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as in a glasse the glorie of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3. 18 and this to the shame of his enemies. Psal. 1 32. 18. The Almonds figured the fruits of his administra∣tion, which hastily should shew forth themselves, to the comfort of the Saints, and pun••shment of al•• that should resist him; as unto Ieremie (one of Aarons sonnes) God shewed in a vision, the r•••• of an Almond tree, (which hath the name of 〈…〉〈…〉∣ning,) and opened the same unto him thus; Then hast well seene; for I will hasten my word, to performe it, Ier. 1. 11, 12. Therefore as soone as Vzzi••h the King rose up to usurpe the Priests office, the le∣prousie even rose up in his forehead, 2 Chron. 26. 18. 19.
Vers. 10. Bring againe] or, Returne Aarons red [unspec 10] before the Testimonie] in Greeke, the Testimo∣nies; meaning the Tables of the covenant in the Arke; as is noted on vers. 4. before which it was laid up, and not in it: for nothing was in the Arke, save the two tables of stone, 1 King. 8. 9. The Hebrewes record how in Solomons Temple, there was a stone in the most holy place, in the west part ther∣of, on which they set the Arke: and before it, was the golden pot of Manna, and the rod of Aaron. Maim. tom. 3. in Beth habchirah, chap. 4. sect. 1. to be kept] Hebr. for a keeping (or reservation.) As the Manna was kept in the golden pot within the most holy place of the sanctuarie, for a reservation and monument to the Israclites, that the generati∣ons after might see the bread which God had gi∣ven their fathers to eat in the wildernesse, Exod. 16. 32.—34. so this rod was kept in the same place for a reservation, and for a signe, that all generations might know the confirmation of their Priest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Aarons line. Both did lead them unto Christ; the Manna figuring the flesh of Christ, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bread from heaven, wherewith the faithfull should be nourished unto life eternall, Ioh•• 6. 31, 32, 33. 51. and the rod, the Priesthood of Christ, where∣by they should be reconciled unto God, Heb, 9. 11, 12. Therefore the Apostle mentioneth this bud∣ding rod, with the pot of Manna, among the most memorable things that were kept in the Holy o•• holies, Heb. 9. 3, 4. the sonnes of rebellion which the Greeke translateth, the disobedient sons; meaning the Israelites, called sonnes (or children) of rebellion, because they were so much addicted thereunto, as if rebellion it selfe had beene their mother: so that Moses testified, Yee have beene re∣bellions against the LORD, from the day that I kn••w you, Deut. 9. 24. This phrase is common in the Scriptures, as, a sonne of injurious evil•• (or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wickednesse) Psal. 8. 23. for an injurious or wicked person: and sonnes of affliction, Prov. 31. 5. for af∣flicted persons: so, sonnes of Belial, Deut. 13. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1 Sam. 2. 12. sonnes of disobedience, Ephes. 2. 2. and 5. 6. sonnes of the light and of the day, 1 Thes. 5. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 children of wisdome, Mat. 11. 19. children of obe∣dience, 1 Pet. 1. 14. and sundry the like. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shalt quite take away] or, shalt consume, shalt wh〈…〉〈…〉