1 Y ahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

2 “ Speak to the children of Israel, and take rods from them, one for each fathers’ house, of all their princes 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 Y ou shall write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers’ houses.

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 I t shall happen, that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud. I will make the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you, cease from me.”

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 M oses spoke to the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve rods. Aaron’s rod 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 M oses laid up the rods before Yahweh in the tent of the testimony.

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

8 O n the next day, Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, Aaron’s rod for the house of Levi had sprouted, budded, produced blossoms, and bore 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 M oses brought out all the rods from before Yahweh to all the children of Israel. 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 Y ahweh said to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that you may make an end of their murmurings against me, that they not 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 M oses did so. As Yahweh commanded him, so he did.

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

12 T he children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “Behold, we perish! We are undone! We are 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 keeps approaching Yahweh’s tabernacle, dies! Will we all perish?”

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