The Hebrew has no past tense verbs in these verses. From the book’s point of view, only verse 34 is bound to refer to the past. La Nouvelle Bible Segond translates with the present tense in verse 33, and with the past tense in verse 34. In some languages it may be possible to bring out the list character of the text by leaving out verbs altogether.

Of Merari were the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari: Verse 20 already refers to Merari and his sons. As in verse 20, the Hebrew word for family and families (mishpachah) is better rendered “clan” and “clans” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, La Nouvelle Bible Segond). As in verses 21 and 27, Bible en français courant provides a good model here that is not repetitive: “Merari was the ancestor of the Merarites, [who were] divided into two clans, those of the Mahlites and of the Mushites.” Another possible model is “The descendants of Merari were divided into two clans, those of….” Good News Translation‘s model here is misleading by saying “The clan of Merari,” because there were two Merarite clans.

Their number according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward was six thousand two hundred: See the comments on verse 22.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .