The Budding of Aaron’s Staff:An Ethic of Non-Violent Conflict Resolution in Numbers 17

Abstract

Abstract

The story of Aaron’s budding staff in Numbers 17 constitutes the final episode of a narrative marked by violence among the people of God, involving both human and divine participants. The revolt initiated by Korah in Numbers 16 created hostility between two rival groups: Moses and Aaron on one side, and other Israelite leaders and the people on the other. The violent manner in which the conflict was initially addressed resulted in the death of thousands of Israelites. However, the narrative demonstrates that violence could not resolve the underlying problem. Instead, the conflict was ultimately addressed through a nonviolent procedure involving the testing of the family staffs. This raises important questions concerning the relationship between God and violence in the Old Testament, particularly within the Exodus narrative. This paper explores how the account of Aaron’s budding staff contributes to an understanding of the tension within the biblical text, particularly the apparent contrast between a God who sanctioned the death of thousands of Moses’ opponents and the same God who initiated a nonviolent solution to Korah’s revolt.