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

Scofield Reference Notes

[1] Aaron's rod

(Cf) Ex 4:2 As Moses' rod was the rod of power, the rod of the King Dt 33:4,5 Song Aaron's was the rod of life, the rod of the Priest. As here the serpents, symbols of Satan, who had the power of death Rev 12:9 Heb 2:14 are swallowed up, Song in resurrection death will be "swallowed up in victory" 1Cor 15:54 Num 17:8.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

12. but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods-This was what they could not be prepared for, and the discomfiture appeared in the loss of their rods, which were probably real serpents.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

7:8-13 What men dislike, because it opposes their pride and lusts, they will not be convinced of; but it is easy to cause them to believe things they wish to be true. God always sends with his word full proofs of its Divine authority; but when men are bent to disobey, and willing to object, he often permits a snare to be laid wherein they are entangled. The magicians were cheats, trying to copy the real miracles of Moses by secret sleights or jugglings, which to a small extent they succeeded in doing, so as to deceive the bystanders, but they were at length obliged to confess they could not any longer imitate the effects of Divine power. None assist more in the destruction of sinners, than such as resist the truth by amusing men with a counterfeit resemblance of it. Satan is most to be dreaded when transformed into an angel of light.