Números 17

The Budding of Aaron’s Rod

1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and get from them a rod from each father’s house, all their leaders according to their fathers’ houses—twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod. 3 And you shall write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi. For there shall be one rod for the head of each father’s house. 4 Then you shall place them in the tabernacle of meeting before *Ex. 25:16the Testimony, *Ex. 25:22; 29:42, 43; 30:36; Num. 17:7where I meet with you. 5 And it shall be that the rod of the man *Num. 16:5whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, *Num. 16:11which they make against you."

6 So Moses spoke to the children of Israel, and each of their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. 7 And Moses placed the rods before the Lord in *Ex. 38:21; Num. 1:50, 51; 9:15; 18:2; Acts 7:44the tabernacle of witness.

8 Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the *(Ezek. 17:24); Heb. 9:4rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds. 9 Then Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord to all the children of Israel; and they looked, and each man took his rod.

10 And the Lord said to Moses, "Bring *Heb. 9:4Aaron’s rod back before the Testimony, to be kept *Num. 16:38; Deut. 9:7, 24as a sign against the rebels, *Num. 17:5that you may put their complaints away from Me, lest they die." 11 Thus did Moses; just as the Lord had commanded him, so he did.

12 So the children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, "Surely we die, we perish, we all perish! 13 *Num. 1:51, 53; 18:4, 7Whoever even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord must die. Shall we all utterly die?"