Numbers, Chapter 17

1. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,    2. Speak to 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 you every man's name on his rod.    3. And you shall write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.    4. And you shall 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 spoke to 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 to all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.    10. And the LORD said to Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and you shall 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 spoke to Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.    13. Whoever comes any thing near to the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?