1. The Lord spoke to Moses:
2. “Speak to the Israelites, and receive from them a staff from each tribe, one from every tribal leader, twelve staffs; you must write each man’s name on his staff.
3. You must write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi; for one staff is for the head of every tribe.
4. You must place them in the tent of meeting before the ark of the covenant where I meet with you.
5. And the staff of the man whom I choose will blossom; so I will rid myself of the complaints of the Israelites, which they murmur against you.”