Then the priest shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water: It may be helpful to say the priest here instead of simply “he” (Good News Translation), especially in view of the reference to the man who burned the cow in the next verse. The expression bathe his body in water suggests that the priest had to immerse himself in water, which of course would not be very plentiful in the arid region where the Israelites were traveling. But the Hebrew here can be taken to mean “wash his body with water” (De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling) or “pour water over himself” (Good News Translation).

And afterwards he shall come into the camp may be rendered “Only then can he go back into the camp” (Contemporary English Version) or “Afterward he may return to the camp” (New Living Translation).

And the priest shall be unclean until evening: The conjunction and may be rendered “but” (Good News Translation) since it introduces a contrast. For the Hebrew verb translated be unclean, see 5.3, where it is rendered “defile.” Here it may be translated “remains ritually unclean” (Good News Translation) or “be ritually impure.” Until evening refers to the setting of the sun. Some languages may say “until the sun goes down [or, disappears]” or “until the end of the day.” The priest was not allowed to come into contact with others until the evening when he would no longer be ceremonially unclean.

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 .