1Then the LORDspoketo Moses,saying,2"Speakto the sonsof Israel,and getfrom them a rodfor each father'shousehold:twelverods,from alltheir leadersaccording to their fathers'households.You shall writeeachnameon his rod,3and writeAaron'snameon the rodof Levi;for there is onerodfor the head[of each] of their fathers'households.4"You shall then depositthem in the tentof meetingin frontof the testimony,whereI meetwith you.5"It will comeabout that the rodof the manwhomI choosewill sprout.Thus I will lessenfrom upon Myself the grumblingsof the sonsof Israel,whoare grumblingagainstyou."6Mosestherefore spoketo the sonsof Israel,and alltheir leadersgavehim a rodapiece,for eachleaderaccording to their fathers'households,twelverods,with the rodof Aaronamongtheir rods.7So Mosesdepositedthe rodsbeforethe LORDin the tentof the testimony.
8Now on the nextdayMoseswentinto the tentof the testimony;and behold,the rodof Aaronfor the houseof Levihad sproutedand putforthbudsand producedblossoms,and it boreripealmonds.9Mosesthen broughtout allthe rodsfrom the presenceof the LORDto allthe sonsof Israel;and they looked,and eachmantookhis rod.10But the LORDsaidto Moses,"Putbackthe rodof Aaronbeforethe testimonyto be keptas a signagainst the rebels,that you may putan endto their grumblingsagainstMe, so that they will not die."11Thus Mosesdid;justas the LORDhad commandedhim, sohe did.
12Then the sonsof Israelspoketo Moses,saying,"Behold,we perish,we are dying,we are alldying!13"Everyonewho comesnear,who comesnearto the tabernacleof the LORD,must die.Are we to perishcompletely?"
