mattahs

The Mattah - ROD

[sent to me by a friend ]

Rod used as a walking stick, a club or weapon, a shepherd’s crook, a padding device, a royal scepter, a measuring stick, figurative of divine authority, also called a staffThe Name In scripture, the Hebrew word for rod, or staff, is "mattah" (mah-TAH).

This same Hebrew word also refers to a king's scepter and the rods used by the various tribes in the Old Testament. Throughout scripture, rods are used as symbols of authority and power.. Historical Reference

Banners were originally rods without cloth. A tribe would raise their "banner" in battle by raising their rod, their ensign, which identified them as a company or clan. Soon, someone strategically attached cloth to the rod. The cloth blew in the wind, indicating the direction of the wind for the archers to shoot more accurately in battle. Thus, flags as we know them today, were birthed. Even now, the pole of a flag is called a standard, which is another name for a flag or banner.

Scriptural Reference While banners were used for the rallying of troops, rods were used for walking sticks, for defense, punishment and measurement. They were also symbols of the prophetic, priestly and royal office.

The following are Scripture references pertaining to the use of rods and staffs.

Genesis 49:10 As Jacob final blessed his twelve sons before his death, he blesses his son Judah (which means praise): "The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his."

Exd 4:2 And the LORD said unto him, What [is] that in thine hand? And he said, A rod...

Exd 4:4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:

Exd 4:17 God charges Moses with taking his staff with him to Egypt. Each time God performed a sign, it came through Moses' obedience in using the staff as God instructed.

Exd 4:20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

Exd 7:9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast [it] before Pharaoh, [and] it shall become a serpent.

Exd 7:10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

Exd 7:12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

Exd 7:15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.

Exd 7:17 Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that [is] in mine hand upon the waters which [are] in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

Exd 7:19 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and [that] there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in [vessels of] wood, and in [vessels of] stone. Exd 7:20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that [were] in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that [were] in the river were turned to blood.

Exd 8:5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.Exd 8:16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

Exd 8:17 And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

Exd 9:23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

Exd 10:13 And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all [that] night; [and] when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.

Exd 14:16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry [ground] through the midst of the sea.

Exd 17:5 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

Exd 17:9 And Moses commanded Joshua, Call the Israelites to arms, and fight the army of Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.

Exd 17: 11 As long as Moses held up the staff with his hands, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites gained the upper hand.

Exd 17:12 Moses’ arms finally became too tired to hold up the staff any longer. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side, holding up his hands until sunset.

Exd 21:20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.

Lev 27:32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, [even] of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

Num 17:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of [their] fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.

Num 17:3 And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod [shall be] for the head of the house of their fathers.

Num 17:5 And it shall come to pass, [that] the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.

Num 17:6 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, [even] twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron [was] among their rods.

Num 17:8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

Num 17:9 And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.

Num 17:10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

Num 20:8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

Num 20:9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.

Num 20:11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts [also].

Judges 6:21 Then the Angel of the Lord touched the meat and bread with the staff in his hand, and fire flamed up from the rock and consumed all he had brought And the angel of the Lord disappeared.

1Sa 14:27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that [was] in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.

1 Sa 14:43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that [was] in mine hand, [and], lo, I must die.

1 Samuel 17:40 David picked up 5 smooth stones from a stream and put them in his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed with only his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across to fight Goliath.

2 Sa 7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

2 Kings 4:29 Then Elisha said to Gehazi, “Get ready to travel; take my staff and go! Don’t talk to anyone along the way. Go quickly and lay the staff on the child’s face

2 Kings 4:31 Gehazi hurried on ahead and laid the staff on the child’s face, but nothing happened. There was no sign of life. He returned to meet Elisha and told him, “The child is still dead.”

Job 9:34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

Job 21:9 Their houses [are] safe from fear, neither [is] the rod of God upon them.

Psa 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psa 74:2 Remember thy congregation, [which] thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, [which] thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

Psa 89:32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

Psa 110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

Psa 125:3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.

Pro 10:13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod [is] for the back of him that is void of understanding.

Pro 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Pro 14:3 In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Pro 22:8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

Pro 22:15 Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Pro 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for [if] thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

Pro 23:14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Pro 26:3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

Pro 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left [to himself] bringeth his mother to shame.

Isa 9:4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

Isa 10:5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

Isa 10:15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? [or] shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake [itself] against them that lift it up, [or] as if the staff should lift up [itself, as if it were] no wood.

Isa 10:24 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.

Isa 10:26 And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and [as] his rod [was] upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.

Isa 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

Isa 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Isa 14:29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit [shall be] a fiery flying serpent.

Isa 28:27 For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.

Isa 30:31 For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, [which] smote with a rod. 32) And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the Lord shall lay upon him, it sahll be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he FIGHT with it!

Isa 30:31 Holman version: At the Lord’s command, the Assyrians will be shattered. He will strike them down with his rod. (32 : And as the Lord strikes them, his people will keep time with the music of tambourines and harps.)

Jer 1:11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.

Jer 10:16 The portion of Jacob [is] not like them: for he [is] the former of all [things]; and Israel [is] the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts [is] his name.

Jer 48:17 All ye that are about him, bemoan him; and all ye that know his name, say, How is the strong staff broken, [and] the beautiful rod!

Jer 51:19 The portion of Jacob [is] not like them; for he [is] the former of all things: and [Israel is] the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts [is] his name.Lam 3:1 I [am] the man [that] hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

Eze 7:10 Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded.

Eze 7:11 Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them [shall remain], nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither [shall there be] wailing for them.

Eze 19:14 And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, [which] hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod [to be] a scepter to rule. This [is] a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

Eze 20:37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

Eze 21:10 It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, [as] every tree.

Eze 21:13 Because [it is] a trial, and what if [the sword] contemn even the rod? it shall be no [more], saith the Lord GOD.

Mic 5:1 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

Eze 37:16 God instructs Ezekiel to use two sticks with writing on them to symbolize the gathering and unity of

Mic 6:9 The LORD'S voice crieth unto the city, and [the man of] wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.

Mic 7:14 Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily [in] the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed [in] Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

1Cr 4:21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and [in] the spirit of meekness?

Hbr 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne.

Rev 19:15 From His mouth came a sharp sword, and with it he struck down the nations. He ruled them with an iron rod, and he trod the winepress of the fierce wrath of almighty God.

What They Mean

Just as banners carry meaning through their color and design, portraying a character of God, or an aspect of worship or intercession, so do rods. We can wave a rod in the air, thrust it like a spear in warfare, and literally striking the land with the proclamation of worship and/or intercession.

Because the rod signifies authority, much like a scepter, we can passionately declare our authority as Children of God to our land, our nation and the earth. The choices of colors, beads, and fabric that we use on the rods, as well as the images, symbols burned into the rods bear meaning for our offering of intercession and worship.

The Goal of Using Rods

In 2 Kings, Elisha instructed King Jehoash to strike the ground with arrows. The King struck the ground 3 times and stopped. Elisha became angry. He said to the King, "You should have struck the ground 5 or 6 times. Then you would have destroyed Aram completely. Now you will only defeat him 3 times." The King's heart was exposed through Elisha's instruction. He was not passionately ready to take on the enemy. His response was somewhat half-hearted as he struck the ground with the arrows.

In Isaiah 11, there is a verse that speaks of God striking the earth with the rod of His mouth. I heard a message preached on this verse from the perspective of using rods in worship, and the speaker stated that God struck the earth with the rod of His mouth when the cross was lifted up into its position, carrying Jesus on it. It literally fell into its hole and "struck the earth." This was the absolute, final, "it is finished" strike--Jesus fulfilling His destiny in reuniting us with the Father and saving, delivering us and healing us of all things. We, by striking the earth with small poles in comparison, are again, restating that "it is finished."

I desire to be ready to strike the ground many times as an act of worship and intercession. When walking with a rod, dancing or warring, we carry the symbol of God's power and authority to do what He has promised He will do. It becomes a prophetic act of plowing and breaking up ground. It is like a gavel in the hand of one who has been given authority, making declaration over the land, the nation and the earth.

Different rods can be used for different purposes of prayer and worship. When I use the rod "Reconciliation," every time I strike the ground with it or wave it in the air, my actions are claiming the promise of the Body of Christ being united, praying for reconciliation among tribes and nations, or even my blood family.

Further information on Mattahs can be found on the following sites:

www.sherismithmusic.com (about rods; view & order rods; photogallery)

www.passionandfire.org (mattah parts 1 & 2; children’s mattahs; scripture study)

also through Ministry to the Nations (Jim & Michael Ann Goll ):

2001 Women on the Frontlines – audio tape of Sheri Smith teaching on mattahs & how to make a mattah

2000 Women on the Frontlines – video tape of Jim Goll teaching on “Blessing the Generations & Mattah team performance