民數記 17
1 上主訓示梅瑟說：
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:
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 unto the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers' house, of all their princes according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods; thou shalt write every man's name upon his rod.
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 thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi, for there shall be one rod for the head of their fathers' houses.
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。
And thou shalt lay them up in the tent of meeting before 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」。
And it shall come to pass, that the man whom I shall choose, his rod shall bud; and I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur 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。
And Moses spoke unto the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.
7 梅瑟就將棍杖放在約幕內，放在上主面前。
And Moses laid up the rods 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。
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and bore ripe 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。
And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel; and they looked, and took every man his rod.
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」。
And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept there, for a token against the rebellious children; that there may be made an end of their murmurings against Me, that they die not.'
11 梅瑟就這樣做了。
Thus did Moses; as the LORD commanded him, so did he.
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!
And the children of Israel spoke unto Moses, saying: 'Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone.
13 凡接近上主會幕的都該死；我們豈不都該死﹖」
Every one that cometh near, that cometh near unto the tabernacle of the LORD, is to die; shall we wholly perish?'
