1 A nd the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

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 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 T hen you shall place them in the tabernacle 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 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.”

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 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.

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 placed the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness.

So 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.

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 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 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 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.”

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

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

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

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

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 to the tabernacle of the Lord, must die. Are we to perish completely?”