complete verse (Numbers 2:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 2:11:

  • Kupsabiny:

    Three clans shall spread/set up on the South side, and the clan of Reuben shall be in charge. Those clans are these:

    Clan Leader Number of soldiers
    Reuben Elizur son of Shedeur 46,500
    Simeon Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai 59,300
    Gad Eliasaph son of Deuel 45,650

    The total/all is 151,450.
    The community of Reuben is number two to be going.

    (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)

  • Newari: “The leader of the tribe of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur. Their section numbered 46,500 men.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:

    ‘The tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad are-to-camp on the south, under the banner of their own each tribe. These (are) the names of their leaders/[lit. heads] and numbers of their people/men:

    Tribe Leader/[lit. Head] Numbers
    Reuben Elizur son/[child] of Shedeur 46,500
    Simeon Shelumiel son/[child] of Zurishadai 59,300
    Gad Eliasaf son/[child]of Deuel 45,650

    (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

  • English: “The tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad must set up their tents on the south side of the Sacred Tent, close to their tribal flags. These are the names of the leaders of those tribes and the number of men whom they will lead:
    Elizur, the son of Shedeur, will be the leader of the 46,500 men of the tribe of Reuben.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 2:10 - 2:16

Most of the comments on verses 3-9 apply here as well.

On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben means Reuben and the other tribes in its group must camp on the south side of the Tent of Meeting. The cardinal point south may be difficult to translate. In some languages, with an orientation toward the rising sun (east), south is spoken of as being on the “right hand.” The camp of Reuben refers to the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad.

The leader of the people of Reuben being Elizur the son of Shedeur: See 1.5.

And those to encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon: The pronoun him refers to the tribe of Reuben. Contemporary English Version makes this clear by rendering this clause as “On one side of Reuben will be the tribe of Simeon.”

The leader of the people of Simeon being Shelumi-el the son of Zurishaddai: See 1.6.

In some languages it will be more natural and seem less repetitive if Then the tribe of Gad (verse 14) is moved to the beginning of verse 12, combining it with the tribe of Simeon as follows: “Those to camp next to the tribe of Reuben shall be the tribes of Simeon and Gad….”

The leader of the people of Gad being Eliasaph the son of Reuel: See 1.14. The name Reuel is spelled “Deuel” by Good News Translation. There is textual evidence for both these spellings in this verse. (The Hebrew letters for “d” and “r” look very similar and are easily confused.) Reuel follows Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia as well as the Septuagint and the Peshitta, the ancient Syriac translation. “Deuel” is found in the Vulgate and the Samaritan Pentateuch. Elsewhere in the book of Numbers (1.14; 7.42, 47; 10.20), the same person, the father of Eliasaph, is consistently called “Deuel.” So we recommend “Deuel” here as well (so also Hebrew Old Testament Text).

They shall set out second: The pronoun They refers to the three tribes under the banner of Reuben. Set out renders the same Hebrew verb as at the end of verse 9 (see the comments there). Chewa translates this clause as “They should be the second group when traveling.”

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 .