Numbers 17:6-12

New International Version

⁶ So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. ⁷ Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.^(A)

⁸ The next day Moses entered the tent^(B) and saw that Aaron’s staff,^(C) which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.^{(D) 9} Then Moses brought out all the staffs^(E) from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.

¹⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff^(F) in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious.^(G) This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” ¹¹ Moses did just as the Lord commanded him.

¹² The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost!^(H)