1 A nd the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

And the Lord said to Moses,

2 “ Speak to the children of Israel, and get from them a rod from each father’s house, all their leaders according to their fathers’ houses—twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod.

Speak 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.

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 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.

4 T hen you shall place them in the tabernacle of meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you.

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

5 A nd it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you.”

And 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.

6 S o Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

And 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.

7 A nd Moses placed the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness.

And Moses deposited the rods before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony.

8 N ow it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds.

And 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.

9 T hen Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord to all the children of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod.

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

10 A nd the Lord said to Moses, “Bring Aaron’s rod back before the Testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put their complaints away from Me, lest they die.”

And 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.

11 T hus did Moses; just as the Lord had commanded him, so he did.

And Moses did so; as the Lord commanded him, so he did.

12 S o the children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “Surely we die, we perish, we all perish!

The Israelites said to Moses, Behold, we perish, we are undone, all undone!

13 W hoever even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord must die. Shall we all utterly die?”

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