Aaron's Rod

Bible Dictionary Entry

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First Mention of Aaron’s Rod [1463BC – Reese]

The rod was probably in the form of a walking-stick, but it could also have been used as a shepherd’s staff or even a weapon. We are not specifically told. Aaron’s rod is first mentioned by name in Exodus 7:9-12, when Moses commanded him to cast down his rod before Pharaoh. It became a serpent and then swallowed up the magicians’ rods that had become serpents. This was the initial sign that God had given to Moses to verify to the Israelites that he was sent from God (Exodus 4:1-4).

Plagues Performed by Aaron’s Rod

Aaron’s rod was used to initiate the first three of the ten plagues on Egypt.

• The first plague was the turning of the water into blood (Exodus 7:19-20). Aaron lifted up the rod, smote the waters of the Nile River, and they became blood.
• The second plague was the plague of frogs (Exodus 8:5-6). Aaron stretched his hand over the waters with the rod and the frogs came forth.
• The third plague was the plague of lice (Exodus 8:16-17). Aaron stretched out his rod and smote the dust and it became lice.

After this plague, Moses took the place God originally meant for him before he made so many excuses (Exodus 4:10-17). Moses stretched out the rod for the seventh plague, the plague of hail (Exodus 9:22-23) and for the eighth plague, the plague of locusts (Exodus 10:12-13).

The Budding of Aaron’s Rod [1461BC – Reese]

The most significant event concerning Aaron’s rod occurred in Numbers 17:1-13. In the previous chapter, Korah and his co-conspirators had rebelled against Moses and Aaron. However, the brunt of their attack was against Aaron. The entire congregation was holy. Moses and Aaron took too much on themselves (Numbers 16:3). Korah and the other Levites had as much right to approach unto the Lord as Aaron had (Numbers 16:10-11). The Lord judged the conspirators. One group was swallowed up when the earth opened up under them (Numbers 16:28-33) and another group were destroyed with fire from the Lord (Numbers 16:35).

This should have proven the point, but the next day the congregation again murmured against Moses and Aaron claiming they had “killed the people of the LORD” (Numbers 16:41). Only the quick action of Aaron in making an offering of incense kept the congregation from being destroyed by the plague God sent in His anger (Numbers 16:46-50).

In the next chapter, Moses established the divine choice of Aaron by a contest of sorts (Numbers 17:1-5). God was to demonstrate His choice of the one who would approach unto Him. The prince of each tribe was to bring his rod to be laid up in the tabernacle overnight. Among them was to be Aaron’s rod. Each man was to write his name on his rod. God would cause the chosen man’s rod to blossom.

The next morning, Moses went in to retrieve the rods and “the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds” (Numbers 17:8). The Lord commanded 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” (Numbers 17:10). That is, it was to be kept in the holy of holies of the tabernacle before the ark. In Hebrews 9:4, we are told that it became one of the three items kept inside the chest-like ark along with a pot of manna and the two tables of the Ten Commandments.

Identity of Aaron’s Rod

One question arises concerning the identity of the rod of Aaron. Is it the same as or different from the rod of Moses? The rod of Aaron is specifically said to be used in the first three plagues. However, the rod of Moses would be used in later plagues (Exodus 9:23; 10:13; 17:5-6) and would be called the rod of God (Exodus 4:20; 17:9). The wording here sounds like each man had his own rod. Therefore, the power of the miracles was not in the rod, or in the men who carried them (since both Moses and Aaron were so used), but in the God who empowered them.

However, a later passage indicates that there was actually one rod. Aaron’s rod was placed “before the LORD” (Numbers 17:7, 10) in the tabernacle. Later, when the children of Israel needed water, the Lord told Moses, “Take the rod” (Numbers 20:8). “And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him” (Numbers 20:9). The phrase, “before the LORD,” expressly describes the place before the ark where the presence of the Lord appeared (Exodus 25:22; 28:35). It is the also place where the pot of manna was placed (Exodus 16:33). This is where Moses had placed Aaron’s rod that budded (Numbers 17:10) and this is where Moses retrieved the rod that is called “his rod” (Numbers 20:11). They are evidently one and the same. The rod of Moses is the rod of Aaron and they are both the rod of God (Exodus 4:20; 17:9).

Typology of Aaron’s Rod

The rod pictures the joining of divine power and divine authority. In the performing of the miracles associated with deliverance from Egypt, the rod was a symbol of God’s mighty power. It even became a serpent to swallow up the rods of the magicians (Exodus 7:11-12). This demonstrated God’s power over the false gods of the Egyptians.

In the placing of the rods in the tabernacle overnight and the budding of Aaron’s rod, the rod was a symbol of authority. Whereas power is the strength to do something, authority is the right to do it. The two are joined in Aaron’s rod. The budding, blooming, and bearing of the rod (Numbers 17:8) demonstrated God’s blessing on the choice of Aaron as the man chosen to approach unto Him Psalm 65:4). The almonds, being the first tree to blossom in season, are a picture of God’s authority and speedy execution of His will. The first vision given to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:11-12) was “a rod of an almond tree.” God explained its meaning: “Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it” (Jeremiah 1:12).

Aaron, as the first high priest of Israel, is a type of Jesus Christ, the great high priest (Hebrews 4:14; 5:4-5). As Aaron was known for the rod he carried, so will Christ be known by His rod (Psalm 2:7-9; Revelation 19:15). And, as Aaron’s rod combined both the power and the authority to do the work of God, so these traits are combined in Christ. “What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out” (Luke 4:36).