Now those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred: Revised Standard Version‘s literal rendering here is awkward in English. New Living Translation provides a helpful model, saying “But 14,700 people died in that plague” (similarly New International Version). The conjunction “But” fits well here.

Besides those who died in the affair of Korah: Although the Hebrew term for affair is very general, “rebellion” (Good News Translation) fits the context better. Since Korah was not the only rebellious person, this clause may be rendered “in addition to those who had died in the rebellion led by Korah” (similarly New Living Translation).

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 .