17 And Hashem spoke unto Moshe, saying,

^2 (17:17) Speak unto the Bnei Yisroel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the Bais Av, of all their Nasiim according to the Bais of their Avot twelve rods; write thou every man’s shem upon his matteh (rod, staff).

^3 (17:18) And thou shalt write shem Aharon upon the rod of Levi; for one rod shall be for the Rosh of the Bais of their Avot.

^4 (17:19) And thou shalt lay them up in the Ohel Mo’ed before HaEdut, where I will meet with you there.

^5 (17:20) And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall sprout; and I will rid Myself of the murmurings of the Bnei Yisroel, whereby they murmur against you.

^6 (17:21) And Moshe spoke unto the Bnei Yisroel, and every one of their Nasiim gave him a rod apiece, for each nasi one, according to their Bais Avot, even twelve rods; and the rod of Aharon was among their rods.

^7 (17:22) And Moshe laid up the rods before Hashem in the Ohel HaEdut.

^8 (17:23) And it came to pass, that the next day Moshe entered into the Ohel HaEdut; and, hinei, the rod of Aharon for the Bais Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

^9 (17:24) And Moshe brought out all the rods from before Hashem unto Kol Bnei Yisroel; and they looked, and took every man his rod.

^10 (17:25) And Hashem said unto Moshe, Bring Aharon’s rod again before HaEdut, to be kept for an ot (sign) against the rebels; and thou shalt quite put an end to their murmurings against Me, that they die not.

^11 (17:26) And Moshe did so; as Hashem commanded him, so did he.

^12 (17:27) And the Bnei Yisroel spoke unto Moshe, saying, See, we die, we perish, we will all perish.

^13 (17:28) Whoever even encroaches upon the Mishkan Hashem shall die. Shall we be consumed with dying?