2
Numbers 17:2
英文原文
Compare Ezekiel 37:16 ff.
3
Numbers 17:3
“你要将亚伦的名字写在利未的杖上”——利未人曾参与近日的那场叛乱，因此有必要维护亚伦家族在他们之上的优越地位；于是亚伦的名字便写在利未的杖上，尽管他是利未次子哥辖的儿子（Exodus 6:16 ff），按自然谱系本不是这支派当然的首领。
英文原文
Thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi - The Levites had taken part in the late outbreak. It was therefore necessary to vindicate the supremacy of the house of Aaron over them; and accordingly his name was written on the rod of Levi, although being the son of Kohath, the second son of Levi (Exodus 6:16 ff), he would not be the natural head of the tribe.
4
Numbers 17:4
“在法柜前”——见 Numbers 17:10 的注释。
英文原文
Before the testimony - See Numbers 17:10 note.
6
Numbers 17:6
杖的总数是十二根，不包括亚伦的杖在内，正如武加大译本（Vulgate）明确所言。
英文原文
The whole number of rods was twelve exclusive of Aaron's, as the Vulgate expressly states.
8
Numbers 17:8
"结了熟杏"——即"成熟的杏"，意思是"结出熟透的杏子"。希伯来语中杏这名字意为"苏醒之树"、"苏醒之果"，因这树在季节之始便开花而得名。杏在这里正如在 Jeremiah 1:11-12 中一样，用来说明神的旨意照他的定意成就得何等迅速而确实。再者，亚伦的杖既从母树上砍下、天然毫无生机，却开花结果，这也可以表明：各种蒙恩之道（例如祭司职分、圣礼）本身、离开了神，原不能有这样的功效，却因神的设立和赐福而成为有益。参较 Isaiah 4:2；Isaiah 11:1；Isaiah 53:2；Jeremiah 33:5；Zechariah 6:12。
英文原文
Yielded almonds - "Ripened almonds," i. e. "brought forth ripe almonds." The name almond in Hebrew denotes the "waking-tree," the "waking-fruit;" and is applied to this tree, because it blossoms early in the season. It serves here, as in Jeremiah 1:11-12, to set forth the speed and certainty with which, at God's will, His purposes are accomplished. So again the blossoming and bearing of Aaron's rod, naturally impotent when severed from the parent tree, may signify the profitableness, because of God's appointment and blessing, of the various means of grace (e. g. the priesthood, the sacraments), which of themselves and apart from Him could have no such efficacy. Compare Isaiah 4:2; Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 53:2; Jeremiah 33:5; Zechariah 6:12.
10
Numbers 17:10
"法版"——即律法的两块版；参较 Exodus 25:16 的注释。无疑，那杖是放在约柜内、两块版的前面。到所罗门的时候（1 Kings 8:9），柜里除了两块版以外别无他物。亚伦的杖大概在约柜被非利士人掳去时遗失了。
英文原文
The testimony - i. e. the two tables of the Law; compare Exodus 25:16 note. No doubt the rod lay in front of the tables within the ark. In the days of Solomon 1 Kings 8:9 there was nothing in the ark save the Two tables. Aaron's rod was probably lost when the ark was taken by the Philistines.
12
Numbers 17:12
新的一段应当从这几节开始。这些经节回顾起来与 Numbers 16 相连，并且直接构成 Numbers 18 的引言。百姓因可拉一党的结局和瘟疫而惊恐万分。放肆经反弹变成了绝望。他们还有亲近耶和华帐幕的路吗？除了远离神的同在之外，还有逃脱死亡的路吗？答案由那些条例给出——它们见证：这位审判的神仍然是恩典与爱的神。
英文原文
A new section should begin with these verses. They are connected retrospectively with Numbers 16; and form the immediate introduction to Numbers 18. The people were terror-stricken by the fate of the company of Korah and by the plague. Presumption passed by reaction into despair. Was there any approach for them to the tabernacle of the Lord? Was there any escape from death, except by keeping aloof from His presence? The answers are supplied by the ordinances which testified that the God of judgment was still a God of grace and of love.
参 Ezekiel 37:16及以下。