Numbers 17

1 ^{a17:1 This v. is 17:16 in MT} The LORD instructed Moses,ISV — Numbers 17:1

2 “Tell the Israelis to take a rod—one from each ancestral house, that is, one from every leader, for a total of twelve rods. Write each tribal name on his rod.ISV — Numbers 17:2

3 You are also to write Aaron’s name on the tribe of Levi, since there is to be one rod for every leader of their ancestral tribes.ISV — Numbers 17:3

4 “Then lay them there in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Ark of the Covenant ^{b17:4 Lit. testimony} where I’ll meet with you.ISV — Numbers 17:4

5 The rod that belongs to the man whom I’ll choose will burst into bloom. That’s how I’ll put a stop to the complaints of the Israelis, who are complaining against you.”ISV — Numbers 17:5

6 So Moses spoke to the Israelis, and each of the tribe leaders gave him a rod, one for each leader, according to their ancestral tribes, for a total of twelve rods. Aaron’s rod was one of them.ISV — Numbers 17:6

7 Then Moses laid out the rods in the LORD’S presence, inside the Tent of Testimony.ISV — Numbers 17:7

8 The next morning, Moses went to the Tent of Testimony and the rod of Aaron of the tribe of Levi had burst into bloom! It sprouted buds, bloomed blossoms, and produced fully ripe almonds!ISV — Numbers 17:8

9 Then Moses took out all the rods from the LORD’s presence to show ^{c17:9 The Heb. lacks show} all the Israelis. Everybody looked, and then each man took his rod.ISV — Numbers 17:9

10 Then the Lord instructed Moses, “Return Aaron’s rod before the testimony ^{d17:10 i.e. the Ark of the Covenant} to be kept for a reminder ^{e17:10 Lit. sign} against the rebels ^{f17:10 Or sons of rebellion} so that you may put an end to their complaints against me and so that they won’t die.”ISV — Numbers 17:10

11 So Moses did exactly what the LORD had commanded him to do.ISV — Numbers 17:11

12 Then the Israelis told Moses, “We’re sure to die! We’re all going to perish—all of us!ISV — Numbers 17:12

13 Anyone who comes near or approaches the LORD’s tent is to die. Are all of us going to die?”ISV — Numbers 17:13