1 A nd the Lord said to Moses,

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

2 S peak to the Israelites and get from them rods or staves, one for each father’s house, from all their leaders according to their father’s houses, twelve rods. Write every man’s name on his rod.

“Speak to the sons of Israel, and get from them a rod for each father’s household: twelve rods, from all their leaders according to their fathers’ households. You shall write each name on his rod,

3 A nd you shall write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi. For there shall be one rod for the head of each father’s house.

and write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi; for there is one rod for the head of each of their fathers’ households.

4 Y ou shall lay them up in the Tent of Meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you.

You shall then deposit them in the tent of meeting in front of the testimony, where I meet with you.

5 A nd the rod of the man whom I choose shall bud, and I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the Israelites, which they murmur against you.

It will come about that the rod of the man whom I choose will sprout. Thus I will lessen from upon Myself the grumblings of the sons of Israel, who are grumbling against you.”

6 A nd Moses spoke to the Israelites, and every one of their leaders gave him a rod or staff, one for each leader according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods, and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

Moses therefore spoke to the sons of Israel, and all their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers’ households, twelve rods, with the rod of Aaron among their rods.

7 A nd Moses deposited the rods before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony.

So Moses deposited the rods before the Lord in the tent of the testimony.

8 A nd the next day Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony, and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and brought forth buds and produced blossoms and yielded almonds.

Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds.

9 M oses brought out all the rods from before the Lord to all the Israelites; and they looked, and each man took his rod.

Moses then brought out all the rods from the presence of the Lord to all the sons of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod.

10 A nd the Lord told Moses, Put Aaron’s rod back before the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels; and you shall make an end of their murmurings against Me, lest they die.

But the Lord said to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put an end to their grumblings against Me, so that they will not die.”

11 A nd Moses did so; as the Lord commanded him, so he did.

Thus Moses did; just as the Lord had commanded him, so he did.

12 T he Israelites said to Moses, Behold, we perish, we are undone, all undone!

Then the sons of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “ Behold, we perish, we are dying, we are all dying!

13 E veryone who comes near, who comes near the tabernacle of the Lord, dies or shall die! Are we all to perish?

Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the Lord, must die. Are we to perish completely?”