For the LORD had said of them, “They shall die in the wilderness”: This is a summary that refers back to 14.29-35. Good News Bible uses indirect speech here, saying “The LORD had said that all of them would die in the wilderness.” While this model may be more natural in some languages, it may also make the LORD’s words sound less forceful. The disobedient generation had to die out according to the LORD’s explicit command before the Israelites could complete their journey to the land of Canaan.

There was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun: This statement confirms what the LORD had said in 14.30 (see the comments there). Only Caleb and Joshua had brought back a positive report about the prospects for conquering the land. Thus, the census of chapter 26 itself was written proof that God kept his word. This census also marked the beginning of a new day for God’s people.

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 .