Bmidbar (Numbers) - Chapter 17

17:1 Mar-Yah spoke to Mosha, saying, 17:2 "Speak to the B'nai Yisrael, and take of them rods, one for each fathers' house, of all their princes according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods: write every man's name on his rod. 17:3 You shall write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers' houses. 17:4 You shall lay them up in the Tabernacle before the testimony, where I meet with you. 17:5 It shall happen, that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the B'nai Yisrael, which they murmur against you."

17:6 Mosha spoke to the B'nai Yisrael; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. 17:7 Mosha laid up the rods before Mar-Yah in the tent of the testimony.

17:8 It happened on the next day, that Mosha went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds. 17:9 Mosha brought out all the rods from before Mar-Yah to all the B'nai Yisrael: and they looked, and took every man his rod.

17:10 Mar-Yah said to Mosha, "Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that you may make an end of their murmurings against me, that they not die." 17:11 Mosha did so. As Mar-Yah commanded him, so he did. 17:12 The B'nai Yisrael spoke to Mosha, saying, "Behold, we perish! We are undone! We are all undone! 17:13 Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the Tabernacle of Mar-Yah, dies! Will we all perish?"