And after that the Levites shall go in to do service at the tent of meeting: Contrary to Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, the Hebrew structure at the beginning of this verse indicates that a new paragraph begins there (so New International Version). An appropriate introductory expression is needed to indicate this in the target language; for example, And after that may be rendered “After you have dedicated the Levites.” The Levites shall go in to do service at the tent of meeting does not mean they will work at the Tabernacle immediately. The Hebrew verb rendered shall go in is better translated “may go in” (New Revised Standard Version) or “will be qualified” (Good News Translation) in this context. To do service renders the Hebrew verb ʿabad (see verse 11), which may be translated simply “to work” (Good News Translation).

When you have cleansed them and offered them as a wave offering: For you have cleansed them, see verse 5; for offered them as a wave offering, see verse 11. Both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation connect these two clauses closely with the previous clause as events that take place before the Levites are qualified to work at the Tabernacle. However, the Hebrew verbs here suggest a logical connection between these two clauses and the following clause (so NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Bible en français courant, La Bible de Jérusalem Nouvelle, La Nouvelle Bible Segond, Luther, Buber). NET Bible expresses this relationship correctly by rendering verses 15-16a as follows:

• 15 “After this, the Levites will go in to do the work of the tent of meeting. So you must cleanse them and offer them as a wave offering. 16 For they are entirely given to me from among the Israelites.

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 .