The Fruitful Rod Of Aaron

Aaron's rod had been used to miraculously demonstrate the LORD's power to the Egyptians at the time of the Exodus:

"^7:9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. ^7:10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. ^7:11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. ^7:12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods." (Exodus 7:9-12 KJV)

"Behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds"

Later, after the Exodus, Aaron's rod was again used to demonstrate the power of the LORD - not to the Egyptians, but to the rebellious Israelites themselves.

"^17:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying [see The Education Of Moses and The Trysting Tent], ^17:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod. ^17:3 And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers. ^17:4 And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. ^17:5 And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.

^17:6 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel [see Children of Jacob], 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 of Aaron was among their rods. ^17:7 And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

^17:8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds [see Almonds to understand where and how else they were used]. ^17:9 And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.

^17:10 And the LORD [see The God Of The Old Testament and Why Did Christ Put Moses To Death?] 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 murmurings from me, that they die not. ^17:11 And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.

^17:12 And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish. ^17:13 Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?" (Numbers 17:1-13 KJV)

From that time, the Levite priesthood, through the line of Aaron, began to be established.

"^18:1 And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. ^18:2 And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi [see Levites], the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and Minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness. ^18:3 And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die. ^18:4 And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.

^18:5 And ye shall keep the charge of the Sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel. ^18:6 And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. ^18:7 Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the veil; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death." (Numbers 18:1-7 KJV)

Fact Finder: (a) Was Aaron's rod that blossomed placed in the Ark of The Covenant along with the Tables of Stone and a pot of manna? (b) Where is the Ark today? (c) What was the "mercy seat"?
(a) Hebrews 9:4; see also What Did The Ten Commandments Look Like?
(b) See Raiders Of The Lost Ark
(c) See Christ's Mercy Seat