As a test, a rod for each tribe is placed in the tabernacle of witness—Aaron’s rod buds and blossoms and brings forth almonds—It is kept as a token against rebels.

1 - And the L ORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 - Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man’s name upon his rod.

3 - And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.

4 - And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.

5 - And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.

6 - ¶ And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

7 - And Moses laid up the rods before the L ORD in the tabernacle of witness.

8 - And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

9 - And Moses brought out all the rods from before the L ORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.

10 - ¶ And the L ORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron ’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

11 - And Moses did so: as the L ORD commanded him, so did he.

12 - And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.

13 - Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the L ORD shall die : shall we be consumed with dying?