And the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron: See 1.1.

Separate yourselves from among this congregation: The Hebrew verb rendered Separate is the same one translated “separated” in verse 9. This use of this verb perhaps conveys an ironic implication, so translators should use a similar verb in both verses, if possible. This congregation may refer the “community” that followed Korah (see verse 5, where the Hebrew word for congregation is rendered “company”). However, it is more likely that this phrase refers to the whole Israelite community, since in verse 22 Moses and Aaron fear that the LORD is about to destroy the entire nation and start again with the two brothers (so Alter, pages 765-766). Translators may prefer to leave the reference ambiguous, as in the original text.

That I may consume them in a moment: The Hebrew verb for consume may be rendered “bring to an end,” “destroy” (Good News Translation), or “annihilate” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). The Hebrew expression rendered in a moment probably does not mean “immediately” (Good News Translation) or “at this very moment,” but “within an instant,” “in a single moment” (Revised English Bible), “in the twinkling of an eye” (De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling), or even “at one time” (Chewa). This expression also occurs in verse 45 and Psa 73.19, where it really cannot mean “immediately.”

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 .