Numbers 17
1 USimakade wakhuluma kuMose, wathi:
2 “Khuluma kubantu bakwa-Israyeli, uthathe kubo izintonga, ibe yinye kuleyo naleyo ndlu yokhokho babo, kubo bonke abaholi ngokwezindlu zokhokho; kube yizintonga ezili-12. Uyoloba igama lomniniyo entongeni yakhe.
3 Entongeni kaLevi uyoloba igama lika-Aroni, ngokuba kuyoba nenhloko eyodwa kuleyo naleyo ndlu yokhokho.
4 Uyozibeka ethendeni lokuhlangana ngaphambi kobufakazi, lapho ngihlangana nawe khona.
5 Kuyothi lowo muntu engiyokumkhetha, intonga yakhe ihlume, ukuze ngiqede ukukhononda abakwa-Israyeli abanakho ngani.”
6 UMose wakhuluma kubantu bakwa-Israyeli, kwathi bonke abaholi bamnika izintonga zabo. Intonga ngayinye kulowo nalowo mholi njengokwezindlu zokhokho; izintonga ezili-12. Intonga ka-Aroni yayiphakathi kwezintonga zabo.
7 UMose wazibeka izintonga phambi kukaSimakade ethendeni lokuhlangana.
8 Ngakusasa uMose waya ethendeni lobufakazi; bheka, intonga ka-Aroni yendlu kaLevi yayihlumile, yaveza imiqumbe, yaqhakaza izimbali, yathela ama-alimondi avuthiweyo.
9 UMose wazikhipha izintonga phambi kukaSimakade wazikhiphela kubo bonke abantu bakwa-Israyeli, babona, kwaba yilowo nalowo wathatha intonga yakhe.
10 USimakade wathi kuMose: “Buyisela intonga ka-Aroni ngaphambi kobufakazi, igcinwe ibe wuphawu kubahlubuki ukuba uqede ukukhononda kwabo ngami, ukuze bangafi.”
11 UMose wenza njengalokhu uSimakade ayemyalile. Wenza kanjalo-ke.
12 Abakwa-Israyeli bathi kuMose: “Uyabona-ke, siyabhubha, siyashabalala, siyaphela sonke ngothi lwethu.
13 Bonke abasondela ethabanakelini likaSimakade bayakufa; siyakufa siphele sonke na?”