1Then the LORD spoke
to Moses
, saying
,
"Speak to the sons
of Israel
, and get
from them a rod
for each father's
household
: twelve
rods
, from all
their leaders
according to their fathers'
households
. You shall write
each
name
on his rod
,
and write Aaron's
name
on the rod
of Levi
; for there is one
rod
for the head
of each of their fathers'
households
.
"You shall then deposit them in the tent
of meeting
in front
of athe testimony
, where
I meet
with you.
"It will come about that the rod
of athe man
whom
I choose
will sprout
. Thus I will lessen
from upon Myself the grumblings
of the sons
of Israel
, who
are grumbling
against
you."
Moses therefore spoke
to the sons
of Israel
, and all
their leaders
gave
him a rod
apiece
, for each
leader
according to their fathers'
households
, twelve
rods
, with the rod
of Aaron
among
their rods
.
So Moses deposited
the rods
before
the LORD
in athe tent
of the testimony
.
Now on the next day
Moses
went
into the tent
of the testimony
; and behold
, athe rod
of Aaron
for the house
of Levi
had sprouted
and put
forth
buds
and produced
blossoms
, and it bore
ripe
almonds
.
Moses then brought
out all
the rods
from the presence
of the LORD
to all
the sons
of Israel
; and they looked
, and each
man
took
his rod
.
But the LORD said
to Moses
, "Put
back
the rod
of Aaron
abefore
the testimony
1to be kept
as a sign
against the 2 brebels
, that you may put
an end
to their grumblings
against
Me, so that they will not die
."
Thus Moses did
; just
as the LORD
had commanded
him, so
he did
.
Then the sons of Israel
spoke
to Moses
, saying
, " aBehold
, we perish
, we are dying
, we are all
dying
!
" aEveryone who comes
near
, who comes
near
to the tabernacle
of the LORD
, must die
. Are we to perish
completely
?"