Bat Kol International, Weekly Torah Nuggets
Parashat Korach | Numbers 16:1–18:32
“When Moses went into the tent of the covenant on the next day, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted. It put forth buds, produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds.” (Numbers 17:8).
In the face of murmurings over Aaron’s priestly authority, God confirmed His choice through the blossoming staff.
Rashi highlights the unusual sequence of buds, blossoms, almonds, the full life cycle appearing, not in a season but at once, a supernatural sign. He also says that the almond was chosen for its early flowering, its swift maturity symbolizing divine action.
Jewish commentators connect Numbers 17 with Jeremiah 1 and see more than speed in the almond’s meaning. They link the Hebrew words shaked (almond) and shoked (watching).
In Jeremiah 1:11–12, the prophet sees an almond branch (makkel shaked) and God explains: “You have seen well, for I am watching (shoked) over My word to perform it.”
Jeremiah’s almond branch echoes Aaron’s staff: God watches over His covenant promises.
He is present in the past, the present and the future. What He begins, He will surely complete.
Reflection:
We live in a world of conflicts and wars and many conflicting voices. Name incident/s you may attribute as God’s divine action, choice or intervention.
Minerva Generalao, Philippines
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“Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies.”
Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions: Nostra Aetate, No. 4