Aaron’s Rod: Despite the outcome of the rebellions in chapter 16 and the role of Aaron in staying the plague, chapter 17 addresses lingering opposition to Aaron and his sons in the established priesthood. Chapter 18, also, will attend to priesthood issues.

17:1–7 With the challenge of the censers in chapter 16, Moses proposed a test to see who would serve at the tabernacle. That test demonstrated the danger of holiness in the camp with the dramatic outbreak of fire, earthquake, plague, and death. Here there is a much calmer and more positive test. God instructs Moses to get twelve staffs, one from each tribal leader, and to write the name of each man on his staff. Aaron’s name is to go on the staff of the tribe of Levi. Moses is to place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting before the ark of t…