⁶So Moses spoke to the people of Israel. Their leaders gave him 12 wooden staffs. They gave one for the leader of each of Israel’s tribes. Aaron’s staff was among them. ⁷Moses put the staffs in front of the Lord in the tent where the tablets of the covenant were kept.

⁸The next day Moses entered the tent. He looked at Aaron’s staff. It stood for the tribe of Levi. Moses saw that it had not only begun to grow new shoots. It had also produced buds and flowers and almonds.

⁹Then Moses brought out all of the staffs from in front of the Lord. He brought them to all of the people of Israel. They looked at them. And each man took his own staff.

¹⁰The Lord said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the ark where the tablets of the covenant are kept. The staff will be kept there as a warning to those who refuse to obey. They are never happy with what I do. Aaron’s staff will put an end to what they are saying. Then they will not die.” ¹¹Moses did just as the Lord commanded him.

¹²The people of Israel said to Moses, “We’ll die! We are lost! All of us are lost! ¹³Anyone who even comes near the Lord’s holy tent will die. Are all of us going to die?”

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