1 ¶ And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,

2 S peak unto the sons of Israel and take of each of them a rod according to the houses of their fathers, of all their princes, twelve rods according to the houses of their fathers, and write thou each man’s name upon his rod.

3 A nd thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi, for each head of family of their fathers shall have one rod.

4 A nd thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the testimony, before the testimony, where I will testify of myself unto you.

5 A nd it shall come to pass regarding the man whom I shall choose that his rod shall blossom; and I will resolve the complaints of the sons of Israel, with which they murmur against you.

6 A nd Moses spoke unto the sons of Israel, and all 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 A nd Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of the testimony.

8 ¶ And it came to pass that on the next day Moses went into the tabernacle of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of Aaron of the house of Levi had budded and blossomed and brought forth open flowers and yielded almonds.

9 T hen Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the sons of Israel; and they looked, and each one took his rod.

10 A nd the LORD said unto Moses, Return Aaron’s rod before the testimony to be kept for a sign unto the rebellious sons; and thou shalt cause their complaints to cease from upon me, that they not die.

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

12 T hen the sons of Israel spoke unto Moses, saying, Behold, we are dead, we are lost, we are all lost.

13 A nyone who comes near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die; shall we all perish?