Aaron’s Staff Buds

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

6So Moses (drawn out) spoke to the Israelites (God prevails), 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 (light bringer) staff was among them. 7Then Moses (drawn out) placed the staffs before the LORD {YHWH} in the Tent of the Testimony.

8The next day Moses (drawn out) entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s (light bringer) staff, representing the house of Levi (joined to), had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds. 9Then Moses (drawn out) brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s {YHWH} presence to all the Israelites (God prevails). They saw them, and each man took his own staff.

10The LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Put Aaron’s (light bringer) 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.” 11So Moses (drawn out) did as the LORD {YHWH} had commanded him.

12Then the Israelites (God prevails) declared to Moses (drawn out), “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost! 13Anyone who comes near the tabernacle of the LORD {YHWH} will die. Are we all going to perish?”