Aaron’s Staff Buds

¹ And the LORD said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs,^* one^* from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff,^{* 3} and write Aaron’s name on the staff^* of Levi, because there must be one staff^* for the head of each tribe. ⁴ Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you. ⁵ The staff^* belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”

⁶ So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff^* —^* one^* for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all.^* And Aaron’s staff^* was among them.^{* 7} Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.

⁸ The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff,^* representing the house^* of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds. ⁹ Then Moses brought out all the staffs^* from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff.^*

¹⁰ The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff^* back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.” ¹¹ So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him.

¹² Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost! ¹³ Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all going to perish?”