1AND the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2Speak to the children of Israel, and take from every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, from all their princes according to the house of their fathers, twelve rods; write each man's name upon his rod. 3And you shall write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi; for one rod shall be for the head of the tribe of their fathers. 4And you shall put them in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. 5And it shall come to pass, that the rod of the man with whom I am pleased shall bud; thus I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you. 6And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was in the midst of their rods. 7And Moses placed the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of the testimony.

8And on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and blossomed, and yielded ripe almonds. 9And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD to all the children of Israel; and they looked, and took every man his rod. 10And the LORD said to Moses, Bring Aaron's rod back before the testimony, to be kept as a token for the rebellious children; so that their murmurings may cease from me, that they die not. 11And Moses did so; as the LORD commanded him, so did he.

12And the children of Israel said to Moses, Behold, we perish and are lost, we all perish. 13Whosoever comes near to the tabernacle of the LORD shall die; and, behold, we also are near to perish.