Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying: Then renders the Hebrew waw conjunction (literally “And”). The events in this section took place before the Israelites reached Mount Pisgah (verse 20), since this mountain was located in the land of the Amorites. So the conjunction Then is better translated “One day,” “It happened that,” or “During their travels.” Good News Bible renders Israel as “the people of Israel,” but in this context it may be more precise to say “the leaders of Israel.” For messengers, which New Living Translation translates “ambassadors,” see 20.14. Sihon king of the Amorites is literally “Sihon the king of the Amorite.” The singular word “Amorite” has a collective sense here. For the Amorites, see 13.29. Here Sihon is viewed as the king of all the Amorites within specific borders (see verse 24), so helpful models for this phrase are “King Sihon of the Amorites” (New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version) and “Sihon the king of the Amorites” (Dutch Common Language Version, NBG, WV). In contrast to this, Sihon and Og are referred to as “the two kings of the Amorites” in Deut 4.47, where the term “Amorites” is a generic designation for the population of the whole Transjordan region.

Let me pass through your land: See 20.17. The Hebrew verb rendered Let me pass is first person singular. The Israelites through their messengers refer to themselves in the singular, as a collective entity. In a number of languages a literal rendering here would imply that Israel is an individual person. If so, Good News Bible provides a helpful model with “Let us pass.” Although the type of Hebrew verb for Let me pass is the same as the one in 20.17, the particle meaning “please” is lacking here. So this request is not quite as deferential as the one in 20.17. Many languages will have certain forms indicating different levels of politeness (or honor) that should be used to seek permission as part of such a diplomatic petition. The Hebrew pronoun for your is singular, referring to Sihon.

We will not turn aside into field or vineyard: See 20.17, which is similar. There the verb “pass through” is used instead of turn aside. NIRV renders this clause as “We won’t go off the road into any field or vineyard.”

We will not drink the water of a well: See 20.17.

We will go by the King’s Highway: There is one small grammatical difference between this clause and the one used in 20.17, but the meaning is the same, so see the comments there.

Until we have passed through your territory: See 20.17.

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 .

Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying: Then renders the Hebrew waw conjunction (literally “And”). The events in this section took place before the Israelites reached Mount Pisgah (verse 20), since this mountain was located in the land of the Amorites. So the conjunction Then is better translated “One day,” “It happened that,” or “During their travels.” Good News Bible renders Israel as “the people of Israel,” but in this context it may be more precise to say “the leaders of Israel.” For messengers, which New Living Translation translates “ambassadors,” see 20.14. Sihon king of the Amorites is literally “Sihon the king of the Amorite.” The singular word “Amorite” has a collective sense here. For the Amorites, see 13.29. Here Sihon is viewed as the king of all the Amorites within specific borders (see verse 24), so helpful models for this phrase are “King Sihon of the Amorites” (New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version) and “Sihon the king of the Amorites” (Dutch Common Language Version, NBG, WV). In contrast to this, Sihon and Og are referred to as “the two kings of the Amorites” in Deut 4.47, where the term “Amorites” is a generic designation for the population of the whole Transjordan region.

Let me pass through your land: See 20.17. The Hebrew verb rendered Let me pass is first person singular. The Israelites through their messengers refer to themselves in the singular, as a collective entity. In a number of languages a literal rendering here would imply that Israel is an individual person. If so, Good News Bible provides a helpful model with “Let us pass.” Although the type of Hebrew verb for Let me pass is the same as the one in 20.17, the particle meaning “please” is lacking here. So this request is not quite as deferential as the one in 20.17. Many languages will have certain forms indicating different levels of politeness (or honor) that should be used to seek permission as part of such a diplomatic petition. The Hebrew pronoun for your is singular, referring to Sihon.

We will not turn aside into field or vineyard: See 20.17, which is similar. There the verb “pass through” is used instead of turn aside. NIRV renders this clause as “We won’t go off the road into any field or vineyard.”

We will not drink the water of a well: See 20.17.

We will go by the King’s Highway: There is one small grammatical difference between this clause and the one used in 20.17, but the meaning is the same, so see the comments there.

Until we have passed through your territory: See 20.17.

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 .