near to offer cense before the LORD, that he be not made like unto Corah and his company: as the LORD said unto him by the hand of Moses. And on the morrow all the multitude of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron saying: ye have killed the people of the LORD. And when the multitude was gathered against Moses and Aaron, they looked toward the tabernacle of witness; And behold, the cloud had covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared. And Moses and Aaron went before the tabernacle of witness. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying: Get you from this congregation, that I may consume them quickly. And they fell upon their faces. And Moses said unto Aaron: take a censer and put fire therein out of the altar, and pour on cense, and go quickly unto the congregation and make an atonement for them. For there is wrath gone out from the LORD, and there is a plague begun. And Aaron took as Moses commanded him, and ran unto the congregation: and behold, the plague was begun among the people, and he put on cense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead, and them that were alive, and the plague ceased. And the number of them that died in the plague, were fourteen thousand and seven hundred: beside them that died about the business of Corah. And Aaron went again unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of witness, and the plague ceased. Chapter .xvij. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying: speak unto the children of Israel and take of them, for every principal house a rod, of their princes over the houses of their fathers: even twelve rods, and write every man's name upon his rod. And write Aaron's name upon the staff of Levi: for every headman over the houses of their fathers shall have a rod. And put them in the tabernacle of witness where I will meet you. And his rod whom I chose, shall blossom: So I will make cease from me the grudgings of the children of Israel which they grudge against you. And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and all the princes gave him for every prince over their fathers' houses, a rod: even twelve rods, and the rod of Aaron was among the rods. And Moses put the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness: And on the morrow, Moses went in to the tabernacle: and behold, the rod of Aaron of the house of Levi was budded and bare blossoms and almonds. And Moses brought out all the staves from before the LORD, unto all the children of Israel, and they looked upon them, and took every man his staff. And the LORD said unto Moses: bring Aaron's rod again before the witness to be kept for a token unto the children of rebellion, that their murmurings may cease from me, that they die not. And Moses did as the LORD commanded him. And the children of Israel spake unto Moses saying: behold, we are destroyed and all come to nought: for whosoever cometh nye the dwelling of the LORD, dieth. Shall we utterly consume away? Chapter .xviij.