1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:2Speak to the sons of Israel and take from them a staff, one for each house of their fathers, from all their leaders according to their fathers' houses—twelve staffs. Write each man's name on his staff.3You shall write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi—for one staff for the head of their fathers' house.4You shall place them in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I will meet with you there.5And it will be that the man whom I choose—his staff will blossom. And I will make an end to the grumblings of the sons of Israel that they are murmuring against you.6And Moses spoke to the sons of Israel, and they gave him a staff for each of their chiefs, one staff for each chief of their fathers' houses—twelve staffs, and Aaron's staff among their staffs.7And Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the testimony.8On the next day, Moses came to the tent of meeting. And there was the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi: it had budded, produced buds, blossomed blossoms, and borne almonds.9And Moses brought out all the staffs from before the LORD to all the sons of Israel, and they saw them, and each man took his staff.10And the LORD said to Moses, "Return Aaron's staff before the testimony for safekeeping, as a sign to the sons of rebels. And it will end their complaints against me so that they do not die."11Moses did just as the LORD commanded him; he did so.12The Israelites said to Moses, "Look, we are dying, we have perished, we all have perished."13Everyone who approaches the tent of the LORD will die. Will we all perish?