מַטֶּה

Next will be the tribe of Gad. The leader of the Gadites is Eliasaph son of Deuel,

The tribe of Manasseh will be next to it. The leader of the Manassites is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,

Next will be the tribe of Benjamin. The leader of the Benjamites is Abidan son of Gideoni,

The tribe of Asher will camp next to it. The leader of the Asherites is Pagiel son of Ocran,

Next will be the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the Naphtalites is Ahira son of Enan,

“Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

And the leaders of Israel, the heads of their families, presented an offering. These men were the tribal leaders who had supervised the registration.

On the first day Nahshon son of Amminadab from the tribe of Judah drew near with his offering.

Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar,

…and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun.

Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon,

…and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad.

Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh,

…and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.

Pagiel son of Ocran was over the division of the tribe of Asher,

…and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali.

“Send out for yourself men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each of their fathers’ tribes send one man who is a leader among them.”

…and these were their names: From the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur;

…from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;

…from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;

…from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph;

…from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;

…from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu;

…from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi;

…from the tribe of Manasseh (a tribe of Joseph), Gaddi son of Susi;

…from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli;

…from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;

…from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi;

…and from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Machi.

“Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff,

…and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe.

The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”

So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff—one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron’s staff was among them.

Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony.

The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds.

Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff.

The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.”

But bring with you also your brothers from the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and assist you and your sons before the Tent of the Testimony.

“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”

So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded.