John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. And Moses spake unto the children of Israel , etc.] What the Lord had bid him say unto them concerning the rods, which they hearkened unto and observed: and everyone of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one ; every prince of the several tribes, and so a rod for every tribe, as well as for each prince: according to their father’s houses, [even] twelve rods ; there being twelve tribes named after their fathers, or the patriarchs, the twelve sons of Jacob; and Joseph having two tribes which sprung from him, called after his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh, there were twelve rods besides that of Aaron; and so the Vulgate Latin version renders the words with the next clause, “and there were twelve rods besides the rod of Aaron;” in all thirteen; though the Jews say there were but twelve with it, allowing but one rod for Joseph, under whom were comprehended Ephraim and Manasseh, and reckoning the tribe of Levi one of the twelve so Aben Ezra observes, that the rod of Levi was among the twelve and Joseph had but one rod: and the rod of Aaron [was] among their rods : in the middle of them, and was so placed, as Jarchi thinks, that it might not be said, because it was put on the side of the Shechinah or divine Majesty, therefore it budded; but being in the middle of them there could be no difference in that respect.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - It is an instance of the grace of God, that, having wrought diver miracles to punish sin, he would work one more to prevent it. Twelv rods or staves were to be brought in. It is probable that they were the staves which the princes used as ensigns of their authority; old dr staves, that had no sap in them. They were to expect that the rod of the tribe, or prince, whom God chose to the priesthood, should bud an blossom. Moses did not object that the matter was sufficiently settle already; he did not undertake to determine it; but left the case befor the Lord.
Original Hebrew וידבר1696 משׁה4872 אל413 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 ויתנו5414 אליו413 כל3605 נשׂיאיהם5387 מטה4294 לנשׂיא5387 אחד259 מטה4294 לנשׂיא5387 אחד259 לבית1004 אבתם1 שׁנים8147 עשׂר6240 מטות4294 ומטה4294 אהרן175 בתוך8432 מטותם׃4294
