And they shall take all the vessels of the service which are used in the sanctuary: The connector and introduces another set of sacred items, so this connector may not be a good way to introduce this verse. It is probably more helpful to set off each new sacred item (or set of items) as a new paragraph (so Contemporary English Version, New International Version). All the vessels of the service which are used in the sanctuary is literally “all the vessels of the service with which they [Aaron and his sons] serve in the holy place.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “all the service vessels with which the service in the sanctuary is performed.” These vessels (“utensils” in Good News Translation) were not just used with the incense altar but in all the worship conducted in the Tabernacle (see 3.31). So these vessels are not just connected with the incense altar in verse 11. To indicate this, Good News Translation should have started a new paragraph in verse 12 (and not only in verse 11). Similarly, Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version should have started verse 12 with a new sentence (so New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). For sanctuary, which renders the Hebrew word qodesh, see the comments on 3.28. Sanctuary and “Holy Place” (Good News Translation) are quite literal renderings of qodesh. If needed, translators may use the chosen term for “tent of meeting” at 1.1.

And put them in a cloth of blue: See verse 6.

And cover them with a covering of goatskin: See verse 6.

And put them on the carrying frame is better rendered “and place them on a carrying frame” (Good News Translation). See the comments on verse 10.

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 .