What is the significance of the sign?
Rashi: They were a sign that Hashem had chosen Aharon as Kohen Gadol, and they would never again complain about the Kehunah. 1
Ramban #1: They were a sign that the tribe of Levi had been chosen over and above all the other tribes. 2
Ramban #2: They were a sign that the tribe of Levi had been chosen over and above the B'choros. 3
Rashbam (on 20:8): They were a sign to remind Yisrael of their rebellious nature. 4
Why does the Torah inser the (otherwise superfluos) word "le'Mishmeres, le'Os ... "?
Harayos, 12a: To teach us via a Gezeirah Shavah " Mishmeres" "Mishmeres" from Beshalach Sh'mos, 16:33 from the jar of Manna, that, when (forty years before the Churban Bayis Rishon), the Aron was hidden, the jar of Manna and the staff of Aharon, were hidden together with it. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 9.
What are the connotations of the words "u'Sechal Telunosam"?
Seforno: It means that the sign of the staffs that are held as a safe-keeping will put a stop to their complaints once and for all.
Why did Hashem instruct Moshe to place the staffs in the Ohel Mo'ed, whereas regarding the jar of Manna, in Sh'mos, 16:33 he instructed Aharon?
Oznayim la'Torah: #1 Because, on the one hand the Manna fell on the merit of Moshe, and it would not have been correct for Moshe to place it, on the other, the staff flowered, blossomed and grew almonds in honor of Aharon and it would not have been correct for Moshe to place it.
Oznayim la'Torah #2: Because, whereas placing the jar of Manna took place before the prohibition on Aharon to enter the Kodeh Kodshim during the year, the prohibition was currently already in place - and Moshe was precluded from the prohibition. 1
Refer to Vayikra, 16:2:6:1.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that "Telunosam" is feminine singular, even if there are many complaints. What forced him to say that?
Moshav Zekenim and Sifsei Chachamim: Because, if "Telunosam was plural, the Torah should have written "va'Tichlenah Telunosam". 1
Moshav Zekenim: Like in Bereishis 41:53).
