1 1Ch 17:16 in HebThen the Loʀᴅ spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “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, 3 and write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi; for there is one rod for the head of each of their fathers’ households. 4  “You shall then deposit them in the tent of meeting in front of AEx 25:16, 21, 22; Num 17:7the testimony, where I meet with you. 5  “It will come about that the rod of ANum 16:5the 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.” 6 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. 7 So Moses deposited the rods before the Loʀᴅ in ANum 1:50, 53; 9:15the tent of the testimony.

8 Now on the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, AEzek 17:24; Heb 9:4the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds. 9 Moses then brought out all the rods from the presence of the Loʀᴅ to all the sons of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod. 10 But the Loʀᴅ said to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron ANum 17:4before the testimony 1Lit for preservingto be kept as a sign against the 2Lit sons of rebellionBDeut 9:7, 24rebels, that you may put an end to their grumblings against Me, so that they will not die.” 11 Thus Moses did; just as the Loʀᴅ had commanded him, so he did.

12 Then the sons of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, “AIs 6:5Behold, we perish, we are dying, we are all dying! 13  “ANum 1:51Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of the Loʀᴅ, must die. Are we to perish completely?”