Numbers 17: Now for the Rod

Twelve rods (branches; staffs) were to be chosen so that God could choose one of them as a sign against the dead rebels of chapter 16. He chose Aaron’s (Levi) by making it bud miraculously. They put his in the ark—and the others took theirs “home.” This was supposed to help them stop murmuring because it demonstrated—again—how God had arranged authority in Israel.