[1] And the Lord said to Moses, [2] 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 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] And let them be stored
up in the Tent of meeting, in front of the ark of witness where I come to
you. [5] 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] 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] And
Moses put the rods before the Lord in the Tent of witness. [8] 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] 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] 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] This Moses did:
as the Lord gave orders, so he did. [12] And the children of Israel said to
Moses, Truly, destruction has come on us; an evil fate has overtaken us
all. [13] Death will overtake everyone who comes near, who comes near the
House of the Lord: are we all to come to destruction?
