Bible Dictionary
AARON'S ROD
Aaron’s rod miraculously budded, blossomed, and produced almonds as God’s sign of Aaron’s appointment to the priesthood. It was kept before the testimony as a lasting witness.
Definition
Aaron’s rod was one of twelve rods placed in the Tent of the Testimony, each representing a tribe and bearing its prince’s name. Aaron’s rod miraculously budded, blossomed, and produced almonds, displaying all three stages of plant life at once.
Biblical Usage
The sign confirmed Aaron’s divine appointment and priestly right after the rebellion against Moses and Aaron. It was kept before the testimony as a lasting token of God’s will; Hebrews mentions it in connection with the Holy of Holies and the ark.
Historical Background
The rod was preserved in the sanctuary after the people accepted the sign as final.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(Nu 17 and He 9:4): Immediately after the incidents connected with the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram against the leadership of Moses and the priestly primacy of Aaron (Nu 16), it became necessary to indicate and emphasize the Divine appointment of Aaron. Therefore, at the command of Yahweh, Moses directs that twelve almond rods, one for each tribe with the prince's name engraved thereon, be placed within the Tent of the Testimony. When Moses entered the tent the following day, he found that Aaron's rod had budded, blossomed and borne fruit, "the three stages of vegetable life being thus simultaneously visible." When the miraculous sign was seen by the people, they accepted it as final; nor was there ever again any question of Aaron's priestly right. The rod was kept "before the testimony" in the sanctuary ever after as a token of the Divine will (Nu 17:10). The writer of Hebrews, probably following a later Jewish tradition, mentions the rod as kept in the Holy of Holies within the ark (He 9:4; compare 1Ki 8:9). See PRIEST, III.</p><p>Edward Mack</p>