1 ¶ And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 Speak to the children of Israel, and get from them a rod one for each of the houses of their fathers, from all their leaders according to their father’s houses twelve rods: write each man’s name on his rod.

3 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 And you shall lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I meet with you.

5 And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make an end of the complaining of the children of Israel, whereby they complain against you.

6 And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him one rod each, one for each leader, according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods in all: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

7 And Moses laid the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

8 ¶ And it came to pass, that on the next day Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted, and brought forth buds, and blossoms bloomed, and yielded almonds.

9 And 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.

10 And the LORD said to Moses, Put Aaron’s rod back before the testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels; that you might make an end of their complaining against me, so that they do not die.

11 And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so he did.

12 And the children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, Look, we are dying, we are dying, we will all die.

13 Everyone who comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD dies: must all of us die?