1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
2"Tell the Israelites to give you twelve staffs, one from the leader of each family group. Write each man's name on his staff.
3Write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi, because there will be one staff for the head of each family group.
4Place them in the Meeting Tent in front of the covenant chest, where I meet with you.
5The staff of the man I choose will sprout buds. I will put an end to the Israelites' constant complaining against you, which they direct at me."
6Moses spoke to the Israelites, and all their leaders gave him staffs, one from each leader, according to their family groups—twelve staffs in all. Aaron's staff was among them.
7Moses placed the staffs before Yahweh in the Tent of the Covenant.
8The next day, Moses went into the Tent of the Covenant, and he saw that Aaron's staff, representing the family of Levi, had not only sprouted buds but also produced blossoms and ripe almonds.
9Moses brought all the staffs out from before Yahweh to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each man took his own staff.
10Yahweh said to Moses, "Put Aaron's staff back in front of the covenant chest to be kept as a sign against the rebellious people. This will put an end to their complaints against me, so they will not die."
11Moses did as Yahweh commanded him.
12The people of Israel said to Moses, "Look, we are dying! We are ruined! We are all ruined!"
13Everyone who even comes near Yahweh's Holy Tent dies! Will we all die?