Numbers 17:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Moses placed these staffs before the Lord in the tabernacle of the covenant. The next day, upon entering the tabernacle of testimony, Moses saw that the staff of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced almonds. He brought the staffs from before the Lord to the children of Israel, who took their respective staffs. The Lord instructed Moses, ‘Place Aaron's staff back before the ark of the covenant as a testimony to the rebels, so that their complaints against Me may cease and they may not perish.’ Thus, the flourishing of the staff clearly indicated that Aaron was divinely chosen from the lineage of Levi for the priesthood. Transitioning from this tangible sign to spiritual reflection, we again see the mystery of Christ revealed.

In what manner? Immanuel was appointed by God the Father as both lawgiver and supreme priest, destined to offer Himself as a sacrifice (cf. Heb. 4:14, 9, etc.). As the Apostle Paul states, ‘the law appoints as high priests men with weaknesses; but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son, made perfect forever’ (Heb. 7:28). Thus, the Word descended from heaven, becoming like us, ‘a priest of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord erected, and not man’ (Heb. 8:2). Yet, those descended from Israel refused to comprehend this, battling against Him with envy, employing tongue, audacity, and extraordinary efforts, ultimately leading to their own destruction by crucifying Him. However, a shoot emerged from the root of Jesse, and Christ arose from the dead, ‘breaking the cords of death’ (Acts 2:24). For how could death hold Him, when He, by nature as God, embodies life and overcomes decay? Just as the flourishing of the rod and the sudden germination of its lifelessness served as a sign to ancient people confirming Aaron's divine selection for the high priesthood, so too does the triumph over death and the glorious resurrection unmistakably affirm that Immanuel is inherently God.

Although Christ could effortlessly perform miraculous acts, when confronted by those seeking a sign, He replied, ‘This generation is wicked; it seeks a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet…Just as Jonah remained in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights’ (Luke 11:29; Matthew 12:40). Therefore, the abolition of death and decay, along with the flourishing of life, stands as a magnificent and evident sign that the Son is God by nature and born of God the Father since ‘He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead’ (Col. 1:18; 1 Cor. 15:20). This sign serves as a warning for the disobedient to understand that, by divine will, Christ has become ‘a High Priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens’ (Heb. 7:26).

Not only did Aaron's rod blossom, as previously revealed, but it also produced nuts. The significance of this mysterious statement remains unclear to me.

First, Palladius, there is nothing extraordinary in suggesting that the rod could be made from walnut wood, a material commonly used in ancient times. When considered symbolically, one might suggest that the walnut rod possesses the inherent ability to induce insomnia through natural means under divine influence. The All-Seer confirms this, asking Jeremiah, ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?’ And he replied, ‘I see the rod of an almond tree.’ The Lord then affirmed, ‘You have seen correctly, for I am watching over My word to fulfill it’ (Jeremiah 1:11-12). Thus, the walnut rod can symbolize vigilance. The resurrection of Christ from the dead mirrors an awakening from slumber. As the Psalmist states, ‘I lie down and sleep; I awake, for the Lord sustains me’ (Psalm 3:6).

This is indeed the true Word.

So too are we guided by the principles set forth in the law of the wise Moses; for the rod of Aaron, which had previously withered and was brought into the Holy of Holies, flourished and bore fruit (Hebrews 9:4). It is essential to understand the significance of these shadows. Some assert that the walnut rod, when applied to a person's head, can induce insomnia due to its very nature. Thus, since Christ, endowed with the grace of God, as the blessed Paul notes, died for everyone (Hebrews 2:9) and rose, as if from sleep, triumphantly overcoming death, He can rightly be compared to a walnut rod.

As a result, while the staffs of the other tribes remained unchanged, the staff of the priest, drawing life not from external moisture but from divine empowerment, blossomed with a branch and produced fruit. This fruit matured and ultimately became a nut. When this transpired, all those who followed Moses were instructed in righteousness. The fruit borne from the priestly rod leads us to consider the rigorous, austere, and disciplined nature that the life of a priest should embody externally, while also nurturing an inner, abiding richness of spirit. This inner nourishment is revealed in the nut, which, when fully matured, sees its hard shell crumble and its wooden exterior break down.

However, if one were to observe the life of any so-called priest who resembles an apple—sweet-smelling and blossoming like a rose, often adorning themselves with opulence and indulging in fine foods, “drinking wine from bowls, smearing themselves with the best ointments” (Amos 6:6)—what initially appears delightful may prove deceptive. Thus, it becomes pertinent to reflect on the Gospel's message: By the fruit, I discern the true nature of the priesthood. The product of the priesthood contrasts sharply with this; genuine priestly fruit is defined by self-control, not indulgence, for its nourishment does not stem from the earthy moisture. The fruit of priesthood is distinct and is not influenced by the superficial allure of the world.

In the beginning, the appearance of these writings may seem quite bitter: they prescribe the circumcision of the flesh, explain the sacraments, and all the other elements associated with the ‘killing letter,’ much like the bitter skin of the nut. Progressing further, we come to the resilient shell, which represents moral teachings or the doctrine of temperance. This is crucial to safeguard what lies within, but once the shell is broken and its contents revealed, a transformation occurs. For instance, when discussing dietary abstinence and the mortification of the flesh, they are undoubtedly essential while we inhabit this corruptible and suffering body. However, upon death, when this body is destroyed and liberated, it will be transformed at the resurrection from perishable to imperishable and from physical to spiritual; at that point, afflictions and the fasts of abstinence no longer hold sway, and the destructive properties of the body cease to exist—thus, the tough shell of the nut, while necessary for discipline, is no longer required afterward. Lastly, within the nut lies the profound mystery of wisdom and the essence of divine knowledge, which nourishes the holy souls not only in this life but also in the next. Therefore, this is the fruit of the priesthood promised to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, that they shall be filled (Matt. 5:6).