Numbers - 17

1 - And the LORD spake unto Moses - , saying,

2 - Speak unto the children of Israel - , and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.

3 - And thou shalt write Aaron - 's name upon the rod of Levi - : for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.

4 - And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.

5 - And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel - , whereby they murmur against you.

6 - And Moses - spake unto the children of Israel - , and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron - was among their rods.

7 - And Moses - laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

8 - And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses - went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron - for the house of Levi - was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

9 - 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 - And the LORD said unto Moses - , Bring Aaron - 's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

11 - And Moses - did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.

12 - And the children of Israel - spake unto Moses - , saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.

13 - Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?