To settle the question of who is chosen, each tribe's leader lays a staff before the LORD. Aaron's staff buds, blossoms and bears almonds overnight, and it is kept as a sign.
1 And the LORD 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 LORD 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 LORD unto all the children of Israel : and they looked , and took every man his rod .
10 And the LORD 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 LORD 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 LORD shall die : shall we be consumed with dying ?