And they set out from Marah, and came to Elim … and they encamped there: Compare Exo 15.27. Good News Bible says “From there they went to Elim where they camped.” Elim was evidently an oasis, but there is no evidence that it was a town or village. The name Elim means “gods,” so it may have been considered a sacred place.

At Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees: Twelve springs of water may be rendered “twelve springs” (TNIV) in English since the water is understood. In dry areas where springs do not exist, translators will need to use a descriptive phrase, such as “places where water flows out of the ground.” The Hebrew word for palm trees refers to date palms. The translation of this verse should reflect that at Elim is probably the information in focus. Good News Bible‘s explanatory clause here may be adjusted to keep the right focus by saying “because at Elim there were twelve springs and seventy date palms.”

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 .