1 A nd the Lord said to Moses,

The Lord said to Moses,

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 people of Israel. Get walking sticks from them, one for each father’s house. Get twelve walking sticks, from all their leaders by their fathers’ houses. Write each man’s name on his stick.

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.

Write Aaron’s name on the walking stick of Levi. For there will be one walking stick for the head of each father’s house.

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

Then put them in the meeting tent before the Law, 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.

And the walking stick of the man I choose will begin to grow. In this way I will stop the complaining of the people of Israel, who are complaining 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.

So Moses spoke to the people of Israel. All their leaders each gave him a walking stick, one for each leader by their fathers’ houses, twelve walking sticks. And the walking stick of Aaron was among their walking sticks.

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

Moses put the walking sticks before the Lord in the meeting tent of the Law.

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.

The next day Moses went into the meeting tent of the Law. And he saw that the walking stick of Aaron for the house of Levi had begun to grow buds and flowers and 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 brought out all the walking sticks from before the Lord to all the people of Israel. They looked, and each man took his stick.

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 the walking stick of Aaron in front of the Law again. It will be something special to see against those who go against My Word. Then you may put an end to their complaining against Me, so they will not die.”

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

So Moses did this. He did just as the Lord had told him.

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

Then the people of Israel said to Moses, “See, we are being destroyed! 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 the meeting tent of the Lord, must die. Are we all to be destroyed?”