These were the ones chosen ¹  from the community, leaders ²  of their ancestral tribes. ³  They were the heads of the thousands ⁴  of Israel.

The land must be divided by lot; and they will inherit in accordance with the names of their ancestral tribes.

You must send to the battle a thousand men from every tribe throughout all the tribes of Israel.” ¹ 

No inheritance may pass from tribe to tribe. But every one of the tribes of the Israelites must retain its inheritance.”

“Speak to the Israelites, and receive from them a staff from each tribe, ¹  one from every tribal leader, ²  twelve staffs; you must write each man’s name on his staff.

So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff, one for each leader, ¹  according to their tribes ²  – twelve staffs; the staff of Aaron was among their staffs.