[1] Then the Lord said to Moses, "Tell the people of Israel that each of their tribal chiefs is to bring you a wooden rod with his name inscribed upon it. Aaron's name is to be on the rod of the tribe of Levi. [4] Put these rods in the inner room of the Tabernacle where I meet with you, in front of the Ark. [5] I will use these rods to identify the man I have chosen: for buds will grow on his rod! Then at last this murmuring and complaining against you will stop!" [6] So Moses gave the instructions to the people, and each of the twelve chiefs (including Aaron) brought him a rod. [7] He put them before the Lord in the inner room of the Tabernacle, [8] and when he went in the next day, he found that Aaron's rod, representing the tribe of Levi, had budded and was blossoming, and had ripe almonds hanging from it! [9] When Moses brought them out to show the others, they stared in disbelief! Then each man except Aaron claimed his rod. [10] The Lord told Moses to place Aaron's rod permanently beside the Ark as a reminder of this rebellion. He was to bring it out and show it to the people again if there were any further complaints about Aaron's authority; this would ward off further catastrophe to the people. [11] So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. [12] But the people of Israel only grumbled the more. "We are as good as dead," they whined. "Everyone who even comes close to the Tabernacle dies. Must we all perish?"
