And they said introduces the criticism of Miriam and Aaron. The Hebrew verb for said is plural, referring to both of them. This verb may be rendered “asked” (TNIV) since two questions follow this quote frame.

Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?: These two parallel questions are rhetorical. The first question has the force of a strong negative assertion, and the second one makes a strong positive statement. Indeed … only renders two Hebrew adverbs (raq and ʾak) that are placed next to each other here for emphasis. In some languages this emphasis may have to be expressed in some other way; for example, Contemporary English Version renders these two questions as “Who does he think he is? The LORD has spoken to us, not just to him.” There was some basis for this claim. Miriam was called a prophetess in Exo 15.20. The LORD spoke to Aaron in Lev 10.8. But they did not have the stature of Moses either in the eyes of the people or, more importantly, before the LORD. So Moses’ unique leadership role was at stake.

And the LORD heard it: The LORD heard the criticism of Miriam and Aaron. New Living Translation renders this clause well, saying “But the LORD heard them.” The conjunction “But” makes this sentence fit better in the context.

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 .