Chapter 17

And the LORD spake¹⁷ unto Moses, saying,²

Speak¹⁶ unto the children of Israel, and take³ of every one of them a rod ⁴²⁹⁴ according to the house of [their] fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve ⁶²⁴⁰ rods: write⁴ thou every man's name upon his rod.

And thou shalt write⁴ Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod [shall be] for the head of the house of their fathers.

And thou shalt lay them up⁵² in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet¹¹ with you.

And it shall come to pass, [that] the man's rod, whom I shall choose,⁴ shall blossom:⁴ and I will make to cease⁵² from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur⁵⁶ against you.

And Moses spake¹⁷ unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave⁴ him a rod ⁴²⁹⁴ apiece, ²⁵⁹ for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, [even] twelve ⁸¹⁴⁷ rods: and the rod of Aaron [was] among their rods.

And Moses laid up⁵⁵ the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went⁴ into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded,¹ and brought forth⁵⁵ buds, and bloomed⁵⁵ blossoms, and yielded⁴ almonds.

And Moses brought out⁵⁵ all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked,⁴ and took⁴ every man his rod.

And the LORD said⁴ unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again⁵⁴ before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; ¹¹²¹ and thou shalt quite take away¹⁷ their murmurings from me, that they die⁴ not.

And Moses did⁴ [so]: as the LORD commanded¹⁴ him, so did¹ he.

And the children of Israel spake⁴ unto Moses, saying,² Behold, we die,¹ we perish,¹ we all perish.¹

Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die:⁴ shall we be consumed¹ with dying?²