And he said introduces Moses’ response to Hobab’s refusal to accompany the Israelites. Good News Translation makes the referent for the pronoun he clear by saying “Moses said,” which other languages may find helpful.

Do not leave us, I pray you: Moses asks Hobab to stay with them. I pray you renders the Hebrew particle naʾ, which serves to underline the request made to Hobab. This particle is better rendered “I beg you” (Revised English Bible) and “Please” (Good News Translation).

For you know how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us: The connector for introduces the reason why Moses wants Hobab to accompany them. Since Hobab knows where to camp in the desert, Moses wants him to be their guide. Moses does not seem to trust the LORD, who had sent the cloud to guide the people on their journey (see verse 34 and 9.15-23). This lack of trust on Moses’ part becomes a theme in Numbers from this point. You know how we are to encamp in the wilderness may be rendered “you know the places to camp in the desert” (Contemporary English Version). For the Hebrew word rendered wilderness (midbar), see 1.1. You will serve as eyes for us is an idiomatic Hebrew expression, which Good News Translation renders nonfiguratively by saying “you can be our guide.”

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 .