---
title: Joseph Smith Translation (1867 edition)
description: Numbers from the Joseph Smith Translation (JST), 1867 edition.
authors:
  - Smith, Joseph, Jr.
collections:
  - joseph-smith
tags:
  - translation
published: "1867"
publisher: RLDS Publication Board
publisher_place: Plano, Illinois
publisher_note: "The title page reads: Published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; Joseph Smith, I. L. Rogers, E. Robinson, Publishing Committee; 1867."
edition: First edition (Plano, 1867)
language: en
type: book
chapter: 17
verse_count: 13
reference: "Joseph Smith Jr., *Joseph Smith Translation*, first edition (Plano, IL: RLDS Publication Board, 1867), Numbers, chap. 17, https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft."
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft
  identifier: holyscripturestr00smituoft
  scan: University of Toronto / Trinity College Library copy, Internet Archive
  transcription: "OCR text of the 1867 scans (Toronto copy and a second copy, holyscriptures00smit), reconciled word by word; Romans was also checked against the page images. Method, per-chapter validation log and known limits: docs/jst-1867-import.md."
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: 1867 US publication
  source: https://archive.org/details/holyscripturestr00smituoft
  publication_year: 1867
---

# Numbers 17

*Aaron's rod flourisheth It is left for a token.*

**1** And the Lord spake unto Moses saying,
**2** Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers, twelve rods; write thou every man's name upon his rod.
**3** And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi; for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
**4** And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.
**5** And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom; and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.
**6** And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.
**7** And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness.
**8** And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms and yielded almonds.
**9** And Moses brought out all the rods from before the Lord unto all the children of Israel; and they looked, and took every man his rod.
**10** And the Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
**11** And Moses did so; as the Lord commanded him, so did he.
**12** And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.
**13** Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the Lord shall die; shall we be consumed with dying?