And the LORD said to Moses: See 1.1.

Take the rod: For the Hebrew word rendered rod, see the comments on 17.2. New Revised Standard Version and De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling say “staff.” The Hebrew text says “the staff,” not “your [Moses’] staff.” So whose staff is this? It is Aaron’s staff, which was kept in front of the Covenant Box in the Tent of Meeting (see 17.10). Verse 9 says it was “before the LORD,” that is, in the Tent of Meeting. Good News Translation makes this explicit already in this verse by saying “the stick that is in front of the Covenant Box” (similarly Bijbel in Gewone Taal). A number of commentators agree that Aaron’s staff is the staff in view here (so Noordtzij, page 176; Ashley, page 382). Why was this staff needed? It was this staff that served as a visual reminder of the Israelites’ rebelliousness (see 17.10; so Rashbam) and the divine punishment that results from such behavior. It is less likely that this staff is Moses’ staff, which Moses used earlier to strike a rock for water (see Exo 17.5-6). Some commentators believe Moses’ staff is in view here (so Levine, page 489; Milgrom, page 165). Contemporary English Version‘s model is based on this interpretation, which renders Take your rod as “Moses, get your walking stick.” Other translations that follow this interpretation are Revised English Bible, Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, which say “Take your staff.” Support for this interpretation comes from verse 11, which refers to “his [Moses’] staff” (New Revised Standard Version), although this phrase could mean merely that the staff was currently being carried by Moses.

And assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother: The Hebrew verb for assemble is the same one translated “assembled” in verse 2, but the context is different. Here God tells Moses and Aaron to call the Israelite community together in one place. This verb comes from the same root as the noun rendered “assembly” in verse 4. For the Hebrew noun rendered congregation (ʿedah), see verse 1. Good News Translation translates this clause as “and then you and Aaron assemble the whole community,” so Good News Translation does not involve Aaron in getting the staff. Revised English Bible does the same by beginning verse 8 with “Take your staff, and then with your brother Aaron assemble the community” (similarly Parole de Vie). Alternatively and less likely, New Living Translation has Aaron involved in getting the staff as well, saying “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community” (similarly New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

And tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water: Good News Translation begins a new sentence at this point, which may be advisable in many languages to avoid a complex, overly long construction. The Hebrew verb for tell is plural, so God gives this instruction to Moses and Aaron, which may be made clear by beginning this clause with “Both of you must command….” (The other verbs in this verse are in the singular, referring to Moses.) No reason is given why Moses and Aaron have to speak to the rock, and not strike it (as was the case in Exo 17.6). Good News Translation renders the rock as “that rock over there” (similarly New Living Translation) in order to bring out the force of the definite article in Hebrew. The rock in view here must have been a prominent or well-known feature of the landscape. Good News Translation leaves before their eyes implicit, but it may be kept by saying “while everyone is watching” (New International Readers Version).

So you shall bring water out of the rock for them; so you shall give drink to the congregation and their cattle: The Hebrew pronouns for you are singular, referring to Moses. For the Hebrew word rendered cattle (beʿir), see verse 4. New International Readers Version provides a helpful model for these two clauses, saying “You will bring water out of the rock for the community. Then they and their livestock can drink it.”

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 .