And Moses said to the judges of Israel: The judges of Israel are distinct from “the chiefs of the people” mentioned in the previous. Perhaps these judges were those appointed by Moses in Exo 18.13-26. In this context they are probably judges in the narrower, judicial sense (magistrates), rather than rulers or “officials” (Good News Bible) in a wider sense.

Every one of you slay his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor: Moses tells the judges to kill any men under their jurisdiction who had worshiped Baal. Alter suggests that Moses seems to narrow down the LORD’s instruction that all the chiefs/leaders be killed. However, Moses seems to apply the LORD’s command not only to the chiefs who had worshiped Baal, but to the other men who had done so as well. In any case, the movement from a general to a specific reference, that is, from “all the chiefs” (verse 4) to just those who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor (see the comments on verse 3), is a typical Hebrew narrative technique.

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 .

But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unholy fire before the LORD: See the comments on 3.4. This verse reaffirms the priesthood of Eleazar and Ithamar as valid. But renders well the Hebrew waw conjunction here (literally “And”) since what this verse says is unexpected after the previous verse. The report of these deaths also functions implicitly as a third “warning” to the new generation (see verses 10 and 19), reminding them here of the LORD’s concern for strict ritual observance within the priesthood.

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 .