(John xiv. 19). The very descent of Aaron to an equality with the rest implied a poeeibility that they might ascend to an equality with him. The risen Saviour in the glory of hie heavenly life ie the first-born among many brethren. Aaron became different from the rest in order that by hie difference he might draw the rest nearer to God. The rod budded for the benefit of the rode that remained dead. IV. THERE IB AN ANTICIPATION OF' THE BLOWER PROCESSES 011' NATURE. Not only ie dead wood restored to life, but the life rushes forward into fruit. In the Lord's hand the work of all seasons can be done in a night. Buds, blossoms, and fruit at the same time I What a fulness of life this indicates I By thus combining in one example three stages of plant life, God shows the power of the priest's office. There was not only promise, but performance. It would have been a work of God to show just peeping buds ; but the work of God here ie to show life in its fulness. It was the clamour of the people that nothing more than empty promise had been got oui of Moses. They had lately learned that Aaron's office was full of worth by his pro- tecting atonement as against the plague. Now in this budding, blossoming, fruit. bearing rod they see both promise and performance. He who makes the rod bud is thereby promising; he who makes it blossom is drawing onward in increased hope; but he who also makes it yield fruit shows that he can perform as well as promise. So may we think of Jesus. Consider the multitudes for whom and in whom his priestly work is being done. They are in different stages. With some the bud, with some the blossom, with some the ripened, fragrant fruit. It needed that all stages should be shown in the life of the typifying rod. V. THE USUAL AIDS OF' NATURE, THE AIDS COMMONLY COUNTED NECESSARY, ARE DISPENSED WITH. There is no planting of the rods in the soil, no exposure to the sunshine and the rain. God, who usually works through many combined ministries, and shows man the blessed fellow-worker with himself, finds it fitting here, for his glory, and for the full manifestation of the truth, to set all customary ministries on one side. If usually there are all these aids, it is because of what is fitting, not of what is indispensably needed. Nothing is needed but to lay the rods in the tabernacle, before the testimony. Thus we see how far from any huma.n choue, contrivance, or cQ'fl,l,rol was the budding of this rod. The result was from God's secret power, and that alone. Thereby he invested Aaron and the ark and every priestly function with fresh importance. Henceforth we look upon Aaron not only as one who keeps back death from the living, but who has to do with the giving back of life to the dead. When this rod was formerly on the tree it did not live after this glorious fashion. There was life, but not in snch exaltation and abundance. This rod was known henceforth not after its first life, but its second. So now we know Christ not nfter the flesh, but after the spirit; not according to those first works, in curing the sick, assuaging temporal sorrows, or even bringing back Lazarus to continue awhile longer his mortal life, but according to those second works by which he, the chosen and only mediatorial channel of them, saves, sanctifies, and perfects those who come to God through him. If this marvellous rod so glorified Aaron, !llld stopped the mur- murings of the people, should it not have some effect, rightly and repeatedly con- sidered, in glorifying Jesus, and bringing us closer to him in humble acceptance and faith. The murmuring of the Israelites was a great evil, but our neglect of that_ gracious Intercessor whom God has appointed is not one whit better.-Y.
EXPOSITION.
CHAPTER XVIII. no direct referenre to thos~ events, and it is qnite possible that the only connection was STATUS AND REVENUES 01!' PRIESTS AND one of subject-matter in the mind of the LEVITES (vers. 1-32). Ver. 1.-The Lord writer. That the regulations which fbllow apake unto Aaron. This clear and compre- were addressed to Aaron directly is n thin<r hensive instruction as to the position and unusual, and indeed unexampled. T11e eve;. support of the sons of Aaron ou the one hand, recurring statement elsewhere is, "the Lord and of the Levites on the other, may very spake unto Moses," varied occasionally by naturally have been given in connection with "the Lord epake unto Moses and unto the events just narrated. There is, however, Aaron " (as in eh, ii. 1 ; iv. 1 ; xix. 1); bui Q2 228 THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. [CB. XVIII. 1-32,