By custom in ancient times, every man had a staff—a large, straight stick used for traveling, walking, and recording information. Often, information could be carved on the sides of the staff from top to bottom. Abraham would have passed his staff to Isaac, and Isaac to Jacob. In Genesis 32:10, Jacob says, “With my staff I passed over this Jordan . . .” On this staff would have been etched the family history, including the covenant promises. Later when Jacob was dying in Egypt, he leaned on the top of his staff and worshipped God (see Heb. 11:21). Jacob’s family staff would normally pass to the firstborn, Reuben. However, because Rueben defiled his father, it went to the fourth son, Judah (see Gen. 49:10).
Later in Scripture, when the son of the Shunammite woman dies, Elisha instructs his servant, Gehazi, “Lay my staff upon the face of the child” (2 Kings 4:29). Since all great personal events could be recorded on the staff, Elijah would have recorded the miraculous birth of this child (see 2 Kings 4:12-17).
When David fights Goliath, he takes his sling, five stones, and his staff (see 1 Sam. 17:40). David is prepared to record on his wooden staff his defeat of Goliath. When penning the twenty-third Psalm, David, the shepherd, writes, “Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Ps. 23:4). This could allude to the Word of God that was given to him prophetically or to the fact that God’s promises to him are etched upon David’s wooden staff, ensuring him that God is with him.
Today, believers quote the written Word of God and activate the blessing of the Almighty by remind- ing the Lord of His covenant promise (see Isa. 43:25-26).
From Page 56 of the Perry Stone Hebraic Prophetic Old Testament Study Bible
