1. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
2. Speak to the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod by their kindreds, of all the princes of the tribes, twelve rods, and write the name of every man upon his rod.
3. And the name of Aaron shall be for the tribe of Levi, and one rod shall contain all their families:
4. And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the covenant before the testimony, where I will speak to thee.
5. Whomsoever of these I shall choose, his rod shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, wherewith they murmur against you.
6. And Moses spoke to the children of Israel: and all the princes gave him rods one for every tribe: and there were twelve rods besides the rod of Aaron.