Numbers 17

1 The Lord told Moses,

And the Lord said to Moses,

2 “Tell the Israelites to bring twelve walking sticks, one from the leader of each tribe. Write the name of each man on the walking stick,

Say to the children of Israel that they are to give you rods, one for every family, for every chief, the head of his father's house, making twelve rods; let every man's name be placed on his rod.

3 and write Aaron's name on the walking stick of the tribe of Levi, because there has to be a walking stick for the head of each tribe.

And let Aaron's name be placed on the rod of Levi: for there is to be one rod for the head of every family.

4 Place the walking sticks in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony where I meet with you.

And let them be stored up in the Tent of meeting, in front of the ark of witness where I come to you.

5 The walking stick that belongs to the man I choose will sprout buds, and I will put a stop to the Israelites' constant complaints against you.”

And the rod of that man who is marked out by me for myself will have buds on it; so I will put a stop to the outcries which the children of Israel make to me against you.

6 Moses explained this to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a walking stick, one for each of the leaders of their tribes. So there were twelve walking sticks including the one belonging to Aaron.

So Moses gave these orders to the children of Israel, and all their chiefs gave him rods, one for the head of every family, making twelve rods: and Aaron's rod was among them.

7 Moses placed the walking sticks before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony.

And Moses put the rods before the Lord in the Tent of witness.

8 The next day Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron's walking stick that represented the tribe of Levi, had sprouted and developed buds, flowered and produced almonds.

Now on the day after, Moses went into the Tent of witness; and he saw that Aaron's rod, the rod of the house of Levi, had put out buds, and was covered with buds and flowers and fruit.

9 Moses took all the walking sticks from the presence of the Lord and showed them to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man collected his own walking stick.

Then Moses took out all the rods from before the Lord, and gave them back to the children of Israel: and they saw them, and every man took his rod.

10 The Lord told Moses, “Put Aaron's walking stick back in front of the Testimony, to be kept there as a reminder to warn anyone who wants to rebel, so that you may stop their complaining against me. Otherwise they'll die.”

And the Lord said to Moses, Put Aaron's rod back in front of the ark of witness, to be kept for a sign against this false-hearted people, so that you may put a stop to their outcries against me, and death may not overtake them.

11 Moses did what the Lord ordered him to do.

This Moses did: as the Lord gave orders, so he did.

12 Then the Israelites came and told Moses, “Can't you see we're all going to die? We'll be destroyed! We're all going to be killed!

And the children of Israel said to Moses, Truly, destruction has come on us; an evil fate has overtaken us all.

13 Anyone who dares to approach the Tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to be completely wiped out?”

Death will overtake everyone who comes near, who comes near the House of the Lord: are we all to come to destruction?