Staff/Rod

A shaft of wood used for support in walking or climbing. Although in many sections of the Bible, staff and rod had the same meaning, sometimes a rod was a stick used to punish someone. The staffs or rods of Moses and Aaron were used by God to work miracles. A staff was often a sign of authority. A shepherd used his rod or staff to beat off attacking animals or to rescue lost sheep. He used his staff to count the sheep every day or to grab a sheep that had fallen in a crevice.

Aaron’s staff was probably a straight piece of wood made from an almond tree. Aaron’s staff turned into a serpent when he threw it down before the pharaoh. When God told Moses to stretch out the staff, the waters of the Nile turned into blood. The staff was used in other plagues. Later, when Korah and others tried to get the people to rebel against Aaron’s authority as high priest, his staff became part of a test to show that Aaron was God’s choice. Twelve staffs (one for each tribe of Israel) were placed in the tabernacle. The next morning, only Aaron’s staff had buds, blossoms, and ripe almonds. Aaron’s staff later was placed inside the ark of the covenant.