民數記 17

1 上主訓示梅瑟說：

And the LORD said to Moses,

2 「你吩咐以色列子民，叫他們每一家族拿一根棍杖，就是每一個領袖為自己家族拿一根，共十二根棍杖，把各人的名字寫在自己的棍杖上；

“Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff,

3 但在肋未的棍杖上，要寫亞郎的名字，因為為肋未的族長亦應有一根棍杖。

and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe.

4 你將這些棍放在會幕內，放在約證前，即在我與你常相會的地方。

Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you.

5 誰約證開花，誰就是我所選擇的人；這樣，我就平息了以色列子民在我面前抱怨你們的怨言」。

The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”

6 梅瑟於是告訴了以色列子民；他們所有的領袖都交給了他一根棍杖，每一家族中，每個領袖一根，共十二根棍杖；在他們的棍杖中，也有亞郎的棍杖。

So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff—one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron’s staff was among them.

7 梅瑟就將棍杖放在約幕內，放在上主面前。

Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.

8 次日，梅瑟進入約幕內，看，肋未家族的亞郎的棍杖發了芽；不但發了芽，並且也開了花，結了成熟的杏。

The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds.

9 梅瑟就由上主面前取出所有的棍杖，給以色列子民觀看；以後各人取回了自己的棍杖。

Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff.

10 上主對梅瑟說：「收回亞郎的棍杖來，放在約證前；給叛逆之徒當作鑑戒，為平息他們對我發的怨言，免得他們死亡」。

The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.”

11 梅瑟就這樣做了。

So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him.

12 以色列子民對梅瑟申訴說：「看，我們要死了，我們完了! 我們全完了!

Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost!

13 凡接近上主會幕的都該死；我們豈不都該死﹖」

Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”