^{1 16} And Jehovah spoke to^▵ Moses, saying,

^{2 17} Speak to^▵ the sons of Israel, and take from^◦ them a rod, a rod for the house of their fathers, from^◦ all their chiefs for the house of their fathers, twelve rods; write thou the name of each^◦ on his rod.

^{3 18} 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 19} And thou shalt place them in the Tabernacle of the congregation^◦ before the testimony, where^▵ I will meet·​·together with you.

^{5 20} And it shall be that the man^◦ whom I shall choose, his rod shall flourish; and I will make to subside from upon Me the murmurings of the sons of Israel, by which they^◦ murmur against you.

^{6 21} And Moses spoke to^▵ the sons of Israel, and all of their chiefs gave to^▵ him one rod for a chief, one rod for a chief, for the house of their fathers, twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was in the midst of their rods.

^{7 22} And Moses placed the rods before Jehovah in the Tabernacle of testimony.

^{8 23} And it was, on the morrow that Moses came into^▵ the Tabernacle of testimony; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi flourished, and brought·​·out blossoms, and flowered flowers, and yielded^◦ almonds.

^{9 24} And Moses brought·​·out all the rods from before Jehovah to^▵ all the sons of Israel; and they looked^◦, and took each·​·man^◦ his rod.

^{10 25} And Jehovah said to^▵ Moses, Return the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be a charge for a sign against^▵ the sons of rebellion; and thou shalt completely·​·end their murmurings from upon Me, and they will not die.

^{11 26} And Moses did so; as^◦ Jehovah commanded him, so he did.

^{12 27} And the sons of Israel said to^▵ Moses, saying, Behold, we expire, we perish, we all perish.

^{13 28} Everyone who draws·​·near, who draws·​·near to^▵ the Habitation of Jehovah shall·​·die; shall we be entirely consumed, even to expire?