1And the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to the children of Israel, and take from every tribe a rod, twelve rods, one from the leader of each tribe: and write each leader s name on his rod. 3And write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi: there shall be one rod be for each tribe. 4And place them in the tabernacle of meeting before the Ark of the Covenant, where I will meet with you. 5And the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will put an end to the murmurings of the Israelites against you.” 6And Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each one of their leaders gave him a rod, one from the leader of each tribe - twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among those rods. 7And Moses placed the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of meeting.

8And on the next day, Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting; and, behold, the rod of Aaron, for the house of Levi, had brought forth buds, bloomed blossoms, and produced almonds. 9And Moses brought all the rods out to all the Israelites from before the LORD: and they looked, and each man took his rod. 10And the LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron's rod back in front of the ark of testimony, to be kept for a warning against the rebels; and by this you shall end their murmurings against Me, so that they do not die.” 11And Moses did as the LORD commanded him.

12And the Israelites said to Moses, “Look, we are doomed! We will all die! We are all lost! 13Whoever comes anywhere near the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we all die?”