²⁰ So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey, and headed back to the land of Egypt. In his hand he carried the staff of God.

⁹ Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”

⁸ “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.”

⁹ So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord.

¹¹ Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.

³ (Moses’ first son was named Gershom,^[a] for Moses had said when the boy was born, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.” ⁴ His second son was named Eliezer,^[b] for Moses had said, “The God of my ancestors was my helper; he rescued me from the sword of Pharaoh.”)

² Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied.

¹⁷ And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”