And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.
Parallel translations
- WEB You shall lay them up in the Tent of Meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.
- BSB Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you.
- NKJV Then you shall place them in the tabernacle of meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you.
- NASB You shall then leave them in the tent of meeting in front of the testimony, where I meet with you.
- NLT Place these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark containing the tablets of the Covenant, where I meet with you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The rods were to be placed in the Tent of Meeting before the testimony, where God meets His people, so the sign would come from His presence.
Overview
Laying the rods before the ark of the testimony placed the test in the most holy setting, directly before God's presence. This ensured the outcome would be understood as God's own verdict. The location underscores that genuine authority is conferred in God's presence, not seized by men.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Exod 30:36And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.
- Num 17:7And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.
- Exod 30:6And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.
- Exod 29:42–43This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.
- Exod 25:16–22And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 17:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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