Translators should include a section heading here if they have inserted headings at verses 52 and 57 (see the introductory comments on this chapter). Verses 63-65 serve as a conclusion to chapter 26, including both “Retrospective and prospective elements”, for example, references to Moses, the old leader of the people, and to Joshua, the new one about to be chosen (27.18).

These were those numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest is literally “These [are/were] those [males] enrolled by Moses and Eleazar the priest.” The demonstrative pronoun These refers to all the Israelite clans mentioned in verses 5-51 and 57-62. Good News Bible makes this clear by saying “All these clans.” The Hebrew construction here does not have a past tense verb (were). New International Version, New Living Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, PV, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, WV, Luther, and the Vulgate use the present tense, which may be more fitting for a list. Numbered, which renders the Hebrew verb paqad, is better translated “enrolled” (New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) again (see verse 7). For Eleazar the priest, see verse 1.

Who numbered the people of Israel …: This clause in English may give the wrong suggestion that it does not refer to a census which has been described already. Good News Bible avoids this misunderstanding by saying “when they took a census of the Israelites….”

In the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho: See verse 3. The second census is framed by specifying this place. The Israelites were still on the eastern side of the Jordan River.

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 .