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Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
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Speak to the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers` house, of all their princes according to their fathers` houses, twelve rods: write you every man`s name on his rod.
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You shall write Aaron`s name on the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers` houses.
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You shall lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.
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It shall happen, that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you.
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Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers` houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.
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Moses laid up the rods before Yahweh in the tent of the testimony.
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It happened on the next day, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds.
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Moses brought out all the rods from before Yahweh to all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.
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Yahweh said to Moses, Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that you may make an end of their murmurings against me, that they not die.
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Thus did Moses: as Yahweh commanded him, so did he.
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The children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone.
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Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tent of Yahweh, dies: shall we perish all of us?