Numbers 17 in the early church

47 passages quote, allude to, or echo Numbers 17, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 8 · 10

Numbers 17:1

And the LORD said to Moses,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 17:1–8	On the Life of Moses 323 · Gregory of Nyssa	allusion, high confidence	ca. 385–395
Num 17:1–10	On the Life of Moses 417 · Gregory of Nyssa	allusion, high confidence	ca. 385–395
Num 17:1–8	Homily 6 · Gregory of Nyssa	allusion, high confidence	ca. 390–394
Num 17:1–8	Numbers, lines 449–472 · Cyprianus Gallus	allusion, high confidence	early 5th cent.
Num 17:1–10	Part 2, chapter 10 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 445-450

Numbers 17:2

“Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 17:2	1 Clement 43.2 · Clement of Rome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100)
Num 17:2	Protevangelium of James 8 · Anonymous	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 150–200
Num 17:2 (17:17 LXX)	Homilies on Numbers 9.7 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 17:3

and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 17:3 (17:18 LXX)	Homilies on Numbers 9.7 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 17:4

Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 17:4	1 Clement 43.2 · Clement of Rome	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100)
Num 17:4 (17:19 LXX)	Homilies on Numbers 9.7 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 17:5

The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 17:5	1 Clement 43.4 · Clement of Rome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100)
Num 17:5 (17:20 LXX)	Homilies on Numbers 9.7 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 17:5 (17:20 LXX)	Homilies on Numbers 9.8 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 17:8

The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 17:8	1 Clement 43.5 · Clement of Rome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100)
Num 17:8	Dialogue with Trypho 86.4 · Justin Martyr	allusion, high confidence	ca. 155–160
Num 17:8	Fragments on the Song of Songs, chapter 6 · Origen	allusion, low confidence	ca. 220-254
Num 17:8	PG 12:1575 (Ps 117 LXX) · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 220-254
Num 17:8	Homilies on Exodus 9.4 · Origen	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 17:8 (17:23 LXX)	Homilies on Numbers 9.7 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 17:8 (17:23 LXX)	Homilies on Numbers 9.8 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 17:8	Catechetical Lecture 12.28 · Cyril of Jerusalem	allusion, high confidence	ca. 350
Num 17:8	Catechetical Lecture 18.12 · Cyril of Jerusalem	allusion, high confidence	ca. 350
Num 17:8	Letter 31 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, high confidence	ca. 360–390
Num 17:8	Tractates on the Psalms 124.7 · Hilary of Poitiers	allusion, high confidence	ca. 360–367
Num 17:8	Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1:22 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, high confidence	ca. 366–384
Num 17:8	On the Destruction of Jerusalem 5.2 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370
Num 17:8	On the Destruction of Jerusalem 5.9 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370
Num 17:8	Question 115, section 42 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–384
Num 17:8	Letter 78.17 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419
Num 17:8	Ancoratus 95.1 · Epiphanius of Salamis	allusion, high confidence	374
Num 17:8	Ancoratus 95.2 · Epiphanius of Salamis	allusion, high confidence	374
Num 17:8	Ancoratus 95.4 · Epiphanius of Salamis	allusion, high confidence	374
Num 17:8	Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 9.3.4 · Epiphanius of Salamis	allusion, high confidence	374-377
Num 17:8	Apostolic Constitutions 2.27.5 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	ca. 380
Num 17:8	Apostolic Constitutions 5.7.14 · Anonymous	allusion, high confidence	ca. 380
Num 17:8	On Virgins 1.1 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 377
Num 17:8	Second Apology of David 50 · Ambrose	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 384-397
Num 17:8 (17:23 LXX)	On Jacob and the Happy Life 2.19 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 386-390
Num 17:8 (17:23 LXX)	On Joseph 46 · Ambrose	allusion, high confidence	ca. 387-390
Num 17:8	On the Trinity 3.5 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 399–419
Num 17:8	On Baptism, against the Donatists 5.15 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 400–401
Num 17:8	Literal Commentary on Genesis 9.17 · Augustine of Hippo	allusion, high confidence	ca. 401–415
Num 17:8	Commentary on Jeremiah 1.7 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 414-419
Num 17:8	The Conferences 14.10 · John Cassian	allusion, high confidence	ca. 426–429

Numbers 17:10

The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 17:10	To Quirinus 3.14 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later)
Num 17:10	On Mortality 11 · Cyprian of Carthage	quotation, high confidence	252–253