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SERIES E --- YHVH’S LAWS --- LESSON 18

AARON’S ROD BUDS

THE ROD THAT BUDDED

From Numbers 16:36-17:13
After the men who revolted had all been destroyed, Adonai spoke to Moses. Tell Aaron’s son Eleazar to pull the censers from the fire, for they are sacred and to scatter the burning incense far and wide, Adonai Instructed. Have the censers hammered into a metal sheet to cover the altar. These censers are holy for they were used before Adonai. The metal sheet will serve as a reminder for the people of Israel. Eleazar obeyed Adonai’s Instructions and gathered the bronze censers that the two hundred and fifty men had presented before Adonai. He hammered them into a large metal sheet to cover the altar, to be a reminder for the people of Israel. All Israel would remember that only Aaron’s descendants, the priests, should burn incense before Adonai, lest someone meet the same tragedy as Korah and his friends. The next morning the entire congregation of Israel became discontented as they thought of the incident of Korah and his friends. You have killed Adonai’s people, they complained. Then they assembled near the tabernacle to take action against Moses and Aaron. But as soon as they had gathered, the cloud covered the tabernacle and the glory of Adonai appeared. The people watched as Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tabernacle, where Adonai spoke to Moses. Get away from the congregation of people and let Me destroy them, Adonai said. But Moses and Aaron fell with their faces to the ground before Adonai. Fill your censer with incense and hot coals from the altar, Moses urged Aaron. Hurry out among the people and make atonement for them, for YHVH’s anger has already gone forth from Him and the plague has begun. Aaron hurried to do what Moses had said. He ran among the people with the censer, making atonement for the people, because the plague had already begun. As Aaron ran among the people, he was like a wall between the living and the dead, stopping the plague where he stood. But the plague took the lives of fourteen thousand, seven hundred people, in addition to the people who had died with Korah. When the plague ended, Aaron returned to Moses, who stood at the doorway to the tabernacle. Later Moses gave Aaron further instructions. Tell the people of Israel to give you a rod for each of the twelve leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel. Write the name of each leader on his rod and put Aaron’s name on the rod for the tribe of Levi. Place these rods in the tabernacle before the Ark, where I meet with you. By these rods I will show the people whom I have chosen, for buds will grow on his rod. This should stop the people from continually complaining against you. Moses gave Adonai’s Instructions to the people and each of the tribal leaders brought a rod. Aaron brought a rod to represent the tribe of Levi. Then Moses put the rods in the room of the tabernacle where the Ark stood, placing them before Adonai. When Moses went in the next day, he found that Aaron’s rod, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only grown buds and blossoms, but had even produced ripe almonds. The people stared at the rods when Moses brought them out. Then each leader quietly claimed his rod, recognizing that YHVH had shown Aaron’s rod as His choice. Place Aaron’s rod back in front of the Ark, Adonai told Moses. Let it remain there as a reminder of this rebellion against Aaron’s leadership. This will warn the people against such things and keep them from further harm. Moses did exactly as Adonai Commanded him. But the people continued their complaints. We are all going to die! They said. Everyone who comes near Adonai’s tabernacle dies. Are we all going to die that way?

COMMENTS

LIFE THEY LEFT BEHIND: EGYPTIAN SCRIBES AND WRITING MATERIALS

The ancient Egyptians can take much of the credit for the paper on which these words are printed. Although they engraved certain long-lasting messages on stone, they developed writing materials similar to paper for day-to-day records. Along the Nile Delta, a hollow reed grows in abundance, sometimes as tall as ten feet high. The Egyptians used this plant for their paper. In fact, the word {paper} comes from the name of the reed; papyrus. The writing paper of the ancient Egyptians is still called by that name. Making papyrus paper was not difficult. The reeds were cut and soaked in water. Then the inner fibres were removed and laid side by side. A second layer of these fibres was placed crosswise on top of the first and the two layers pressed or glued together. The final step was to roll, trim and smooth the papyrus sheet. The crosswise layer was considered the top of the papyrus, the side used for writing. But when papyrus was scarce, the back side was used. Parts of the first four books of the New Testament were originally written on the back sides of papyrus; for the early believers could not afford to waste anything. Centuries later, the Chinese began to use rags and bamboo to make paper. The Arabs revised this technique and used linen. Wood pulp, which is plentiful and relatively inexpensive, is what is used today. But it can turn yellow and crumble. It does not last as long as the earlier papers made of linen or papyrus. Writing in ancient Egypt was done with reed pens. The reed was frayed at one end to make a brush, or cut to make a pen point. The tip of the brush or pen was moistened with water and dipped onto a cake of dried red or black pigment. The wet pigment looked much like ink. Pens, brushes, water jars and pigment cakes were all kept in the writer’s palette, a thin board with small pouches. Many years later, ink was pre-mixed and kept in inkwells. Only royalty or people of high social standing received a good education, which included learning the art of writing. It was the kind of education Moses received. Becoming a professional writer or scribe took years of training, but it was one of the better occupations in ancient Egypt. The scribes lived comfortable, wealthy lives and were much in demand. The Egyptians believed they gained a sort of eternal life by leaving their mark behind in the wise ideas of written records. Some scribes were trained to be what could be called bookkeepers or accountants. They recorded the deposits; and withdrawals; at the granaries, a type of storehouse for grain. They sat cross-legged when they worked, stretching their linen skirt-like clothes tightly across their knees. They laid the papyrus sheets on top of this taut surface and used it as a desk. People of high standing wanted their portraits done with them in this position, because it showed the extent of their education.

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