15. The word of the Lord came to me again. He said,
16. “Son of man, get one stick and write this message on it: ‘This stick belongs to Judah and his friends, the people of Israel.’ Then take another stick and write on it, ‘This stick of Ephraim belongs to Joseph and his friends, the people of Israel.’
17. Then join the two sticks together. In your hand, they will be one stick.
18. “Your people will ask you to explain what that means.
19. Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim and his friends, the people of Israel. Then I will put that stick with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick. In my hand, they will become one stick!’
20. “Take the sticks that you wrote on and hold them in front of you.