The Hebrew has no past tense verbs in these verses. From the book’s point of view, only verse 28 is bound to refer to the past. La Nouvelle Bible Segond translates with the present tense in verse 27, and with the past tense in verse 28. In some languages it may be possible to bring out the list character of the text by leaving out verbs altogether.

Of Kohath were the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these are the families of the Kohathites: Verse 19 already refers to Kohath and his sons. As in verse 19, the Hebrew word for family and families (mishpachah) is better rendered “clan” and “clans” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, La Nouvelle Bible Segond). As in verse 21, Bible en français courant provides a good model here that is not repetitive: “Kohath was the ancestor of the Kohathites, [who were] divided into four clans, those of the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, and of the Uzzielites.” Another possible model is “The descendants of Kohath were divided into four clans, those of….” Good News Translation‘s model here is misleading by saying “The clan of Kohath,” because there were four Kohathite clans.

According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred: See the comments on verse 22. Instead of eight thousand six hundred, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, and Bijbel in Gewone Taal say “8,300,” which follows some manuscripts of the Septuagint. Contemporary English Version and New International Version mention this alternative reading in a footnote. This would bring the figure into line with the total in verse 39, where the numbers of verses 22, 28, and 34 are added up. At an earlier stage the Hebrew text may have read “three,” where, after the accidental omission of just one consonant, the traditional Hebrew text now reads “six.” But this is only a possibility, and the textual evidence of those manuscripts of the Septuagint is very limited indeed. (See also the comments on verse 39 for another way to account for the difference of 300.)

Attending to the duties of the sanctuary: For attending to the duties, see the comments on verses 7-8. Sanctuary renders the Hebrew word qodesh, which is literally “holy place.” Here it refers to the Tabernacle. Good renderings for sanctuary are “holy space/area” (De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling) and “Holy Place” (New Century Version). Good News Translation omits this clause. But the same clause occurs in Hebrew at the end of verse 32, where Good News Translation does translate it. Translators should avoid such inconsistency.

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 .