Make two silver trumpets: Trumpets were long and straight metallic instruments used for signal calls. One end of a trumpet had a mouthpiece, while the other end was widened into a bell shape. The sound on the trumpet was made by blowing into the mouthpiece in such a way as to vibrate the lips. The vibrations were magnified as they passed along the widening body of the tube. Translators should select an instrument that readers will expect to be used for the purpose of signaling. Trumpets were different in form from the rams’ horns, which Revised Standard Version sometimes calls “trumpets”. In terms of function, these two types of trumpet are sometimes the same, at other times different. If possible, then, it would be good for translators to distinguish them in the text. An illustration of the silver trumpet in comparison with the ram’s horn might also be helpful at some point in the translation.

Of hammered work you shall make them: As in 8.4, the Hebrew word for hammered work refers to any metal that is beaten or hammered into a desired form or shape. Here it refers to silver that was pounded with a hammer into the shape of trumpets. The Hebrew pronoun for you is singular, referring to Moses. However, God is probably asking Moses to have someone else make the trumpets, so Contemporary English Version renders the first two clauses of this verse as “Have someone make two trumpets out of hammered silver.”

And you shall use them for summoning the congregation, and for breaking camp: The trumpets had to be used to gather the people of Israel and to signal them to move their camp. The Hebrew word for congregation (ʿedah) is better rendered “community” (see 1.2). This term refers to the entire national, legal and cultic society of Israel. Good News Translation uses the vague rendering “people,” which we do not recommend, if it can be avoided. The Hebrew expression for breaking camp refers to taking down tents in preparation for moving to a new location. For camp see the comments on 1.50.

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 .