And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and against Aaron: Congregation renders the Hebrew word ʿedah again (see the previous verse). For assembled against, see verse 3. New International Version says “gathered in opposition to.”

They turned toward the tent of meeting: Who is the referent for the pronoun they? According to New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Parole de Vie, La Bible de Jérusalem Nouvelle, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and SPCL, this pronoun refers to Moses and Aaron. However, the Hebrew of this verse seems to favor the entire Israelite community, including Moses and Aaron, as the subject here (so New International Version, Nueva Traducción Viviente, Herziene Statenvertaling, Nije Fryske Bibeloersetting, Willibrordvertaling, La Sacra Bibbia, versione ufficiale a cura della Conferenza Episcopale Italiana). Nueva Traducción Viviente and Herziene Statenvertaling render this pronoun as “the people,” and La Sacra Bibbia, versione ufficiale a cura della Conferenza Episcopale Italiana has “the Israelites.” For the tent of meeting, see 1.1.

And behold, the cloud covered it: The Hebrew word hinneh rendered behold introduces a surprising development in the story (see the comments on 12.10). The force of this word may be conveyed by saying “This is what they saw—the cloud…” or “Look! The cloud….” For the cloud, see 9.15.

And the glory of the LORD appeared: See 14.10.

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 .