“Speak to the people of Israel. Get twelve wooden walking sticks from them. Get one from the leader of each of the twelve family groups. Write the name of each man on his walking stick.
Men from Judah’s family will be kings.
The sign that his family rules
will not leave his family,
before the real king comes. [257] Then many people will obey
and serve him.
The priests were given their part of the collection. This was done by families, in the way they were listed in the family histories. The Levites 20 years old and older were given their part of the collection. This was done by their responsibilities and by their groups.
The Lord will help your kingdom grow.\par Your kingdom will start at Zion, {\cf2\super [573]} \par and \{it will grow until\} you rule\par your enemies in their own countries!\par
A fire started in the large branch\par and spread to destroy all of its\par vines and fruit.\par So there was no strong walking stick.\par There was no king’s scepter.’ {\cf2\super [137]} \par
The sword was made sharp for killing.\par It was polished to flash like lightning.\par “‘My son, you ran away from the stick I used to punish you.\par You refused to be punished with that wooden stick.\par
Why? Because it is not just a test! You refused to be punished with the wooden stick, so what \{else should I use to punish you\}? \{Yes, the sword.\}’” The Lord my Master said those things.
So rule your people with your rod.\par Rule the flock of people\par that belongs to you.\par That flock lives alone in the woods,\par and up on Mount Carmel.\par That flock lives in Bashan and Gilead\par like they did in time past.\par
Moses finished setting up the Holy Tent. [99] On that day, he dedicated it to the Lord. Moses anointed [100] the Tent and all the things in it. Moses also anointed the altar [101] and all the things used with it. This showed that these things should be used only for worshiping the Lord.