YAHWEH spoke to Musa, saying, 2“Speak to Bani-Israel, and take from them rods, one for each fathers’ house, from all their princes according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods: write every man’s name on his rod. 3You shall write Harun’s name on the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers’ houses. 4You shall lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you. 5It shall happen, that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of Bani-Israel, which they murmur against you.”
6Musa spoke to Bani-Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Harun was among their rods. 7Musa laid up the rods before YAHWEH in the tent of the testimony.
8It happened on the next day, that Musa went into the tent of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of Harun for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds. 9Musa brought out all the rods from before YAHWEH to all Bani-Israel: and they looked, and every man took his rod.
10YAHWEH said to Musa, “Put back the rod of Harun before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that you may make an end of their murmurings against me, that they not die.” 11Thus did Musa: as YAHWEH commanded him, so did he.
12Bani-Israel spoke to Musa, saying, “Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone. 13Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tent of YAHWEH, dies: shall we perish all of us?”