give a sign. This was agreed to. So the rest brought their rods,
as did Aaron also, who had written the tribe of Levi on his rod.
These rods Moses laid up in the tabernacle of God. On the next
day he brought out the rods, which were known from one another by
those who brought them, they having distinctly noted them, as had
the multitude also; and as to the rest, in the same form Moses
had received them, in that they saw them still; but they also saw
buds and branches grown out of Aaron's rod, with ripe fruits upon
them; they were almonds, the rod having been cut out of that
tree. The people were so amazed at this strange sight, that
though Moses and Aaron were before under some degree of hatred,
they now laid that hatred aside, and began to admire the judgment
of God concerning them; so that hereafter they applauded what God
had decreed, and permitted Aaron to enjoy the priesthood
peaceably. And thus God ordained him priest three several times,
and he retained that honor without further disturbance. And
hereby this sedition of the Hebrews, which had been a great one,
and had lasted a great while, was at last composed.

3. And now Moses, because the tribe of Levi was made free from
war and warlike expeditions, and was set apart for the Divine
worship, lest they should want and seek after the necessaries of
life, and so neglect the temple, commanded the Hebrews, according
to the will of God, that when they should gain the possession of
the land of Canaan, they should assign forty-eight good and fair
cities to the Levites; and permit them to enjoy their suburbs, as
far as the limit of two thousand cubits would extend from the
walls of the city. And besides this, he appointed that the people
should pay the tithe of their annual fruits of the earth, both to
the Levites and to the priests. And this is what that tribe