1
Nu 17:1-13.
英文原文
Nu 17:1-13.
AARON'S ROD FLOURISHES.
2
無標題
2-5. 你曉諭以色列人——關於祭司職任之爭，牽涉既如此重大，性質又如此尖銳，非得有果斷而權威的裁決不可。為了根除一切疑慮、平息今後對此職位持有者的一切怨言，神行了一件性質獨特、功效長久的神蹟；而行這神蹟的方式，使全體百姓都與之有直接而特殊的關聯。
取……首領……十二根杖——各支派的首領既是各族長家長子、又是本支派的族長，若這聖職要在眾支派之間分享，他們本最有資格爭取祭司之位；因此揀選了他們。他們共有十二位——約瑟只算一支——神吩咐摩西要把每人的名字（這是從埃及人學來的做法）刻在他的職杖之上。所用的是亞倫而非利未之名，因為後者會在利未人中間啟開爭論之門；而且既是一支派只給一根杖，明文指定給亞倫一根杖，便確定他為該支派的元首，也確定了祭司尊榮當屬該支派中的哪一分支或家族。這些杖要放在帳幕內、約櫃近處（將
Nu 17:10 與 Heb 9:4 對照）， 神應許在那裏賜下記號，永遠終結這場爭論。
英文原文
2-5. Speak unto the children of Israel--The controversy with Moses and Aaron about the priesthood was of such a nature and magnitude as required a decisive and authoritative settlement. For the removal of all doubts and the silencing of all murmuring in the future regarding the holder of the office, a miracle was wrought of a remarkable character and permanent duration; and in the manner of performing it, all the people were made to have a direct and special interest.
take of every one . . . princes . . . twelve rods--As the princes, being the oldest sons of the chief family, and heads of their tribes, might have advanced the best claims to the priesthood, if that sacred dignity was to be shared among all the tribes, they were therefore selected, and being twelve in number--that of Joseph being counted only one--Moses was ordered to see that the name of each was inscribed--a practice borrowed from the Egyptians--upon his rod or wand of office. The name of Aaron rather than of Levi was used, as the latter name would have opened a door of controversy among the Levites; and as there was to be one rod only for the head of each tribe, the express appointment of a rod for Aaron determined him to be the head of that tribe, as well as that branch or family of the tribe to which the priestly dignity should belong. These rods were to be laid in the tabernacle close to the ark (compare
Nu 17:10 and Heb 9:4),
where a divine token was promised that would for all time terminate the dispute.
6
無標題
6. 亞倫的杖也在他們的杖之中——可能是十二根之一，或如許多人所想，是中央第十三根
(Heb 9:4)。 這些杖是枯乾的樹枝或木棒，大概年代已久，是歷代族長相傳下來的。
英文原文
6. the rod of Aaron was among their rods--either one of the twelve, or, as many suppose, a thirteenth in the midst
(Heb 9:4).
The rods were of dry sticks or wands, probably old, as transmitted from one head of the family to a succeeding.
8
無標題
8. 摩西進了帳幕——他這次能如此行，是因有神特別的命令。他在裏面看見了奇異的景象——亞倫的杖（據約瑟夫所記，是一根杏樹的枝子）同時結出三個不同階段的果子——花苞、花朵和熟杏。
英文原文
8. Moses went into the tabernacle--being privileged to do so on this occasion by the special command of God. And he there beheld the remarkable spectacle of Aaron's rod--which, according to JOSEPHUS, was a stick of an almond tree, bearing fruit in three different stages at once--buds, blossoms, and fruit.
10
無標題
10. 把亞倫的杖還放在法櫃前，留作記號，使背叛之徒止息怨言——因為若在一切警戒與刑罰、並有神蹟為佐證之後，百姓仍要叛亂，他們必將以死償其罪。
英文原文
10. Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels--For if, after all admonitions and judgments, seconded by miracles, the people should still rebel, they would certainly pay the penalty by death.
12
無標題
12, 13. 看哪，我們死啦，我們滅亡啦——這是出於恐懼的呼喊，既因回想從前的刑罰，也因擔心將來再陷入怨言之中。
英文原文
12, 13. Behold, we die, we perish--an exclamation of fear, both from the remembrance of former judgments, and the apprehension of future relapses into murmuring.
13
無標題
13. 進前來的——即過分地進前，是許多人容易犯的錯。神嚴厲的公義會臨到每一點輕微的過犯嗎？我們都要滅亡了。然而也有人把這呼喊視為新發不滿的徵兆，而非敬畏順服之心的表露。我們當敬畏，卻不要犯罪。
英文原文
13. cometh any thing near--that is, nearer than he ought to do; an error into which many may fall. Will the stern justice of God overtake every slight offense? We shall all be destroyed. Some, however, regard this exclamation as the symptom or a new discontent, rather than the indication of a reverential and submissive spirit. Let us fear and sin not.
Nu 17:1-13.
亞倫的杖發了芽。