Numbers 17:1
17:1 And the LORD spake unto {a} Moses, saying,

     (a) While he was in the door of the tabernacle.

Numbers 17:5
17:5 And it shall come to pass, [that] the man's rod, whom I
     shall {b} choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease
     from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby
     they murmur against you.

     (b) To be the chief priest.

Numbers 17:6
17:6 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one
     of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince
     one, according to their fathers' houses, [even] twelve
     rods: and the rod {c} of Aaron [was] among their rods.

     (c) Though Joseph's tribe was divided into two in the
         distribution of the land, yet here it is but one and
         Levi makes a tribe.

Numbers 17:8
17:8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the
     tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron {d}
     for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds,
     and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

     (d) To declare that God chose the house of Levi to serve
         him in the tabernacle.

Numbers 17:10
17:10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again
      before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the
      rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their {e}
      murmurings from me, that they die not.

      (e) Grudging that Aaron should be high priest.

Numbers 17:12
17:12 And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying,
      Behold, {f} we die, we perish, we all perish.

      (f) The Chaldea text describes their complaining in this
          way; "We die by the sword, the earth swallows us up,
          the pestilence consumes us."