[1] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[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.
[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.
[4] And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.
[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.
[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.
[7] And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[11] And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.
[12] And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.
[13] Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?