Numbers 17

Expanded Bible

Aaron’s Walking Stick Buds

17 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the ·people [^Lsons; ^Tchildren] of Israel and get twelve ·walking sticks [staffs] from them—one from the leader of each ·tribe [family group; ^Lhouse of their fathers]. Write the name of each man on his ·stick [staff], and ³ on the ·stick [staff] from Levi, write Aaron’s name. There must be one ·stick [staff] for the head of each ·tribe [family; ^Lhouse of their fathers]. ⁴ Put them in the Meeting Tent in front of the ·Ark of the Agreement [Treaty; Covenant; ^LTestimony; Ex. 25:10], where I meet with you. ⁵ I will choose one man whose ·walking stick [staff] will begin to grow leaves [^Cindicating God’s affirmation]; in this way I will stop the ·Israelites [^Lsons/^Tchildren of Israel] from always ·complaining [grumbling] against you.”

⁶ So Moses spoke to the ·Israelites [^Lsons/^Tchildren of Israel]. Each of the twelve leaders gave him a ·walking stick [staff]—one from each ·tribe [family; ^Lhouse of their fathers]—and Aaron’s ·walking stick [staff] was among them. ⁷ Moses put them before the Lord in the Tent of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant].

⁸ The next day, when Moses entered the Tent of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant], he saw that Aaron’s ·stick [staff] (which stood for the family of Levi) had grown leaves. It had even budded, blossomed, and produced almonds. ⁹ So Moses brought out to the ·Israelites [^Lsons/^Tchildren of Israel] all the ·walking sticks [staffs] from the Lord’s presence. They all looked, and each man took back his ·stick [staff].

¹⁰ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s ·walking stick [staff] back in front of the ·Ark of the Agreement [Treaty; Covenant; ^LTestimony; Ex. 25:10]. It will ·remind [^Lserve as a sign to] these people who are always turning against me to stop their ·complaining [grumbling] against me so they won’t die.” ¹¹ So Moses obeyed what the Lord commanded him.

¹² The ·people [^Lsons/^Tchildren] of Israel said to Moses, “We ·are going to die [will perish]! We are ·destroyed [lost]. We are all ·destroyed [lost]! ¹³ Anyone who even comes near the Holy Tent of the Lord will die. Will we all ·die [perish]?”