Then the Kohathites set out: The Kohathites followed the camp of Reuben as the Israelites moved from site to site. The verb set out refers to a repetitive action again (see verse 14), so Good News Translation says “would start out.”

Carrying the holy things summarizes the Kohathites’ duties mentioned in 3.31; 4.4, 15. The Hebrew word for holy things is miqdash, which Bijbel: Vertaling in opdracht van het Nederlandsch Bijbelgenootschap renders “what is holy.” This term can refer not only to the Holy Place of the Tabernacle (see 3.38), but also to the best, most holy part of the Israelites’ tithes (see 18.29). Here it refers to the Tabernacle’s “sacred objects” (Good News Translation) mentioned in 3.31, which included the sacred chest, the table for the sacred bread, the lampstand, the two altars, and other pieces of equipment. But where was the sacred chest located during the marches? According to verse 33, the Kohathites probably carried it in front, leading the procession of people.

And the tabernacle was set up before their arrival: The tabernacle was set up refers to another repetitive action, so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “the Tabernacle would be set up again.” In Hebrew this clause is literally “they set up [or, erected] the Tabernacle.” Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation use a passive verb here to make it clear that the pronoun “they” does not refer anymore to the Kohathites but to the other Levites, that is, the Gershonites and the Merarites, who were responsible for dismantling and erecting the Tabernacle (see the comments on verse 17). In languages that require an active verb here, this clause may be rendered “the other Levites would have set up the Tabernacle again.” Before their arrival refers to before the arrival of the Kohathites with the sacred objects. Good News Translation makes it clear that the other Levites had already erected the Tabernacle before the Kohathites arrived with the sacred objects by saying “By the time they arrived at the next camp, the Tent had been set up again.”

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 .