Conclusion of Aaron's Rod Grows Flowers

Then Moses says: 'By this you know whom Jehovah has chosen.  The ground will open up and swallow up these bad men.' 

As soon as Moses stops talking, the ground opens up. Ko'rah's tent and belongings and Da'than and A-bi'ram and those with them go down, and the ground closes over them.  When the people hear the ground cries of those falling in the ground, they shout: 'Run! The earth might swallow us too!'

Ko'rah and his 250 followers are still near the tabernacle. So Jehovah sends fire, and all of them are burned up. Then Jehovah tells Aaron's don E-le-a'zar to take the fire holders of the dead men to make a thin covering for the altar with them.  This altar covering is to serve as a warning to the Israelites that no one besides Aaron and his sons should act as priests for Jehovah.

But Jehovah wants to make very clear that it is Aaron and his sons whom he has chosen to be priests.  So tells Moses: 'Have a leader of each tribe of Israel bring his rod.  For the tribe of Levi, have Aaron bring his rod.  Then put each of these rods in the tabernacle in front of the ark of the covenant. The rod of the man that I have chosen as priest will grow flowers.'

When  Moses looks the next morning, why, Aaron's rod has these flowers and ripe almonds growing out of it!   So do you see now why Jehovah caused Aaron's rod to grow flowers?

Next time: Moses Strikes the Rock

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