Aaron’s Rod as
the State of Israel (Numbers 17: 16-25)
In Numbers 16
the earth swallows up Korach’s jealous haters (who mistook selfless service for
selfish entitlement), as well as the anti-aliya rebels-for-any-cause Dathan and
Aviram ( לא נעלה Lo N’[A]LeH in 16:12). This
miraculous but angry, instant and violent intervention did not solve the
crisis. (See the Korach You Tube of Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks). What finally
settles the leadership dispute by the wannabes (who symbolize the future forces
of Replacement Theology), is the slow, non-violent, positive, even Green
undeniable eloquence of the miracle of Aaron’s Rod, מטה
אהרן MaDTeH
AHaRoaN.
By the
Almighty’s command, the sturdy walking sticks of the heads of all the tribes
are to be marked and gathered overnight in the sacred Tent of Meeting. The next
morning, the staff (long-dead tree branch) of the chosen tribe will
miraculously have come to life, have sprouted buds, blossoms and botanical
produce.
This was
undeniably the sign of the Creator of Life. Such a miracle recalls Aaron’s Rod
becoming a snake, which swallowed the charmed snakes (fake staffs) of Pharoahs’
magicians. But this sign and wonder is supremely powerful because it answers
strife with positive pleasantness, with life and growth. Non-coincidently, “Her
ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peaceful” precedes “she is a TREE
OF LIFE to those who grasp her” (Proverbs 3:17 and 18).
Every tribe
puts in their staff. מטה MaDTaH means both
tribe and staff, as a rod is a branch or offshoot of people. (Similarly, שבט SHeyBHeDT is also both a
"tribe" (Numbers 24:2) or a branch. A SEPT is an old Irish clan or
tribe, for example, and שבט SHeyBHeDT is behind SCEPTER, STAFF,
STAVE and SWITCH (the whipping branch). *
Again, the
tribes of Israel are a metaphor for the world’s peoples, and the landless,
teacher tribe of Levi is a metaphor of the wandering Jews. But, since 1948, the
Jews have returned to their Promised Land. More than the Jews waited for
Israel, Israel waited for the Jews. The land was a barren wasteland with a
malarial swamp, keeping squatters away. Read the stark testimony of travelers
like Mark Twain. But today, Israel is the world’s only country with more trees
than it had in the 19th century. It is an agricultural superpower and exporter,
growing even South American coffee and bananas, Chinese lychee, Iraqui dates,
etc.
Aaron’s rod
sprouted blossoms and almonds. The challenging tribes dropped their jaws and
complaints. One day the Black Hebrews, orthodox Catholics, liberal BDS
Protestants, militant peaceniks and sundry Lost Tribe claimants will be
impressed enough with the miracle of Israel’s resurrection to agree to be
served by a tiny tribe whom they finally come to understand is not claiming
superiority. A new generation of Torah-literate Israelis will humbly display
their god-given role as role models.
Even many
children of Ishmael will finally be satisfied with their vast superiority in
numbers and acres, and conclude that tolerating, benefiting from this tiny
miracle is more productive than wasting trillions, (defying the Koran,) and
vainly attempting to destroy her.
May the minor,
often-overlooked episode of Aaron’s Rod become a blooming walking stick with
which to progress forward towards a new world of peace.