And the LORD said to Moses: See 1.1.

They shall offer their offerings, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar: Good News Translation expresses the LORD’s request here clearly by saying “Tell them [the leaders] that each day for a period of twelve days one of the leaders is to present his gifts for the dedication of the altar.” It is clear from verse 3 that there were twelve chiefs involved, which Good News Translation makes explicit here by referring to “twelve days.” Good News Translation also shows more clearly that verses 10-11 form the introduction to verses 12-83, in which the twelve-day procedure of the offerings for dedicating the altar is described from day to day. Offer their offerings, which is literally “bring near their offering,” renders the same Hebrew verb and noun as in the previous verse (see the comments there). Good News Translation translates their offerings as “his gifts.” This translation does not imply that these were personal offerings; each leader presented offerings on behalf of his whole tribe.

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 .