Chapter 17
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The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
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Speak 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.
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You shall write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi—for one staff for the head of their fathers' house.
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You shall place them in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I will meet with you there.
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And 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.
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And 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.
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And Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the testimony.
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On 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.
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And 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.
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And 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."
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Moses did just as the LORD commanded him; he did so.
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The Israelites said to Moses, "Look, we are dying, we have perished, we all have perished."
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Everyone who approaches the tent of the LORD will die. Will we all perish?