By Jacob shall dominion be exercised: Scholars regard the Hebrew text here as uncertain. It reads literally “One out of Jacob shall rule” (New Revised Standard Version, Willibrordvertaling, Vulgate). New International Version is similar with “A ruler will come out of Jacob” (similarly New Living Translation, NET Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling, Luther), and so is New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh with “A victor issues from Jacob.” This reading, with reference to an Israelite ruler, is supported by the chiastic arrangement of this prophecy (see the comments on verse 15b). Alternatively, but less likely, Levine (page 203) divides the Hebrew consonants in this line differently, so he has “Jacob will subdue them.” Alter is similar with “and Jacob holds sway over them,” and so is Good News Translation with “The nation of Israel will trample them down” (similarly Revised English Bible). Good News Translation replaces Jacob with “The nation of Israel,” probably to avoid confusion.

And the survivors of cities be destroyed: New International Version and Bijbel: Vertaling in opdracht van het Nederlandsch Bijbelgenootschap follow the Hebrew here more closely with “and [he will] destroy the survivors of the city,” and so does NET Bible with “he will destroy the remains of the city.” The pronoun “he” refers to the Israelite ruler mentioned in the first line. Another helpful model is “He kills those who escape from the city” (De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling). The singular Hebrew word for “city” has a plural sense here, so Bible en français courant renders this line as “he exterminates the last inhabitants of their [the Edomites’] cities.” Good News Translation omits “of the city” (meʿir in Hebrew), which we do not recommend. Revised English Bible, La Bible de Jérusalem Nouvelle, and Bijbel in Gewone Taal emend “of the city” to read “from Ar” (meʿar in Hebrew). (The city of Ar is mentioned in 21.15, 28). This change is unnecessary (so Hebrew Old Testament Text).

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 .