The LORD continues to speak to Moses in verses 29-33. Again, Good News Translation transforms this whole subunit into indirect speech, which may not be as effective in other languages when giving a series of instructions.

As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families and their fathers’ houses: The sons of Merari may be rendered “the descendants of Merari” (Bible en français courant) or simply “the Merarites” (New International Version). The Hebrew pronoun for you is singular since God is addressing Moses. Number renders the Hebrew verb paqad (see the comments on 1.3). It is better translated “register,” “enroll” (New Revised Standard Version), or “record” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). For by their families and their fathers’ houses, see the comments on verse 2. Good News Translation refers to the sons of Merari as the “clan of Gershon,” so it has to say “by subclans and families” here. A better model for verse 29 is “Register the descendants of Merari by their clans and families.”

From thirty years old up to fifty years old may be rendered “between the ages of thirty and fifty” (Good News Translation).

You shall number them: See the comments above.

Every one that can enter the service renders a similar Hebrew expression translated “all who can enter the service” in verse 3 (see the comments there). As there, this clause is better rendered “all who are subject to service” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “all who are eligible to service” (similarly New Living Translation).

To do the work of the tent of meeting: To do the work (literally “to serve/render service”) renders a different Hebrew phrase than the one used in verse 3 (see the comments there). The expression here focuses on submissive work. It seems to underscore the fact that the responsibilities of the Merarites were indeed less central and perhaps more subordinate than those of the Kohathites. For the tent of meeting, see 1.1.

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 .