Numbers · Chapter 17

[ edit] And þe Lord ſpak to Moyſes, ſeiynge, Spek to þe ſones of Yrael, and tak of hem ſondry ȝeerdis, bi her kynredis, of alle þe princes of þe lynagis twelue ȝerdes; and of echon þe name þow ſhalt vpon write to his ȝerde; þe name forſoþe of Aaron ſhal be in þe lynage of Leuy, and o ȝerde alle þe meynees of hem ſhal conteyn. And þow ſhalt putte hem in þe tabernacle of þe boond of pees, before þe witneſſynge, where I ſhal ſpeke to þee; whom of hem Y ſhal cheſe, ſhal buriowne his ȝerde; and I ſhal chaſtyſe fro me þe pleyntes of þe ſones of Yrael, in þe whiche aȝens ȝow þei grutchen.

And Moyſes ſpak to þe ſones of Yrael; and alle þe princes ȝauen to hem ȝerdes, bi alle þe lynages; and þere weren twelue ȝerdes, wiþ out þe ȝerde of Aaron. Þe whiche whanne Moyſes hadde putte before þe Lord, in þe tabernacle of witneſſynge, þe day folwynge he goon aȝen, foond þat þe ȝerde of Aaron, in þe houſe of Leuy, hadde buriowned; and ſwellynge þe gemmes, breken out flowres, þei ſpred a brood wiþ leeues, into almaundes be fourmed. Þanne Moyſes brouȝte forþe alle þe ȝerdes fro þe ſiȝt of þe Lord to alle þe ſones of Yrael; and eche ſeen, and token her ȝerdes.

And þe Lord ſeide to Moyſes, Ber aȝen þe ȝerde of Aaron into þe tabernacle of witneſſynge, þat it be kept þere into tokne of þe rebel ſones of Irael, and þe querels of hem reſten fro me, leſt þei dien. And Moyſes dide, as þe Lord comaundide. Þe ſones of Yrael forſoþe ſeiden to Moyſes, Loo! we ben waſtid, and alle we periſſhen; who ſo euer comeþ niȝ to þe tabernacle of þe Lord, dieþ; wheþer vnto þe deeþ alle we ben to be doon awey?