Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to suffice them?: The Hebrew word for flocks (tsʾon) refers to sheep and goats, and the word for herds (baqar) refers to cattle. Parole de Vie renders this rhetorical question as a strong statement, saying “Even if they [indefinite] kill for them [the Israelites] all the sheep, the goats and the cattle, that is not enough!”

Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?: Parole de Vie renders this rhetorical question as a strong statement also, saying “Even if they [indefinite] take all the fish, that is not enough!” For Parole de Vie the fish of the sea is a redundant expression, so it simply says “fish.”

These two rhetorical questions imply considerable doubt on Moses’ part. He simply did not believe that the LORD could do what he had just promised. No amount of sheep, goats, cattle, and fish would be enough to feed such a large multitude!

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 .