^17:1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, ^17:2Speak to the sons of Israel and take rods from them, one for each father's house, from all their rulers according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods. Write every man's name upon his rod. ^17:3 And you will write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi, because one rod will be for each head of their fathers' houses.^17:4 And you will lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you^*. ^17:5And it will happen, that the rod of the man whom I will choose will bud. And I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the sons of Israel, which they murmur against you^*.

    ^17:6 And Moses spoke to the sons of Israel. And all their rulers gave him rods, for each ruler one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. ^17:7 And Moses laid up the rods before Jehovah in the tent of the testimony.

    ^17:8 And it happened on the next-day, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded and put forth buds and produced blossoms and bore ripe almonds. ^17:9 And Moses brought out all the rods from before Jehovah to all the sons of Israel. And they looked and took every man his rod. ^17:10 And Jehovah said to Moses, Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a sign against the sons of rebellion, that you may make an end of their murmurings against me, that they do not die. ^17:11 And Moses did. As Jehovah commanded him, so he did.

    ^17:12 And the sons of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, Behold, we perish, we are dying, we are all dying. ^17:13 Every man who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of Jehovah, dies. Shall we, all of us, perish?