You must write Aaron&#8217;s name on the staff of Levi; for one staff is for the head of every tribe.<n id="1" />

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.&#8221;p>

So Moses brought out all the staffs from before the <sc>Lordsc> to all the Israelites. They looked at them,<n id="1" /> and each man took his staff.p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Bring with you your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, so that they may join<n id="1" /> with you and minister to you while<n id="2" /> you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony.

They must join<n id="1" /> with you, and they will be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the tent, but no unauthorized person<n id="2" /> may approach you.

See, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they perform &#8211; the service of the tent of meeting.

And you may<n id="1" /> eat it in any place, you and your household, because it is your wages for your service in the tent of meeting.

Why<n id="1" /> have you brought us up from Egypt only to bring us to<n id="2" /> this dreadful place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink!&#8221;p>

<t /><n id="1" /><p class="bodytext">Moses<n id="2" /> sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom:<n id="3" /> &#8220;Thus says your brother Israel: &#8216;You know all the hardships we have experienced,<n id="4" />

When all the community saw that Aaron was dead, the whole house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Then they traveled from Mount Hor by the road to the Red Sea,<n id="1" /> to go around the land of Edom, but the people<n id="2" /> became impatient along the way.

So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole, so that if a snake had bitten someone, when he looked at the bronze snake he lived.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="bodytext">And from there they traveled<n id="1" /> to Beer;<n id="2" /> that is the well where the <sc>Lordsc> spoke to Moses, &#8220;Gather the people and I will give them water.&#8221;

But the Israelites<n id="1" /> defeated him in battle<n id="2" /> and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strongly defended.

So Israel took all these cities; and Israel settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages.<n id="1" />

He replied to them, &#8220;Stay<n id="1" /> here tonight, and I will bring back to you whatever word the <sc>Lordsc> may speak to me.&#8221; So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

But God said to Balaam, &#8220;You must not go with them; you must not curse the people,<n id="1" /> for they are blessed.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

For I will honor you greatly,<n id="1" /> and whatever you tell me I will do. So come, put a curse on this nation for me.&#8217;&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Then the <sc>Lordsc> opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, &#8220;What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?&#8221;

Then on the next morning Balak took Balaam, and brought him up to Bamoth Baal.<n id="1" /> From there he saw the extent of the nation.p>