In Revised Standard Version this verse still belongs to the paragraph about the Kohathite clans (verses 27-31). This makes sense, because the end of this verse still refers to the Kohathites and to their task in the same way as at the end of verse 28. But in Good News Translation this verse is set off as a separate paragraph. This also makes sense, because verse 31 concludes the paragraph about the Kohathites in a manner similar to the endings of the other two Levite divisions in verses 26 (Gershonites) and 37 (Merarites). Furthermore, the beginning of this verse refers to the whole Levite tribe and Eleazar’s leading position in it. One advantage of Revised Standard Version‘s paragraphing here is that readers will better understand the implied reference to the Kohathites (those who had charge of the sanctuary; see the comments below) at the end of the verse. Eleazar was, after all, a Kohathite (see 1 Chr 6.2-3). On the other hand, it does appear that the discourse structure of this chapter favors the special status of verse 32 as a separate unit that refers to all three of the Levite divisions. So the Good News Translation paragraphing here can also be supported and is perhaps preferable from a functional perspective.

So why does verse 32 come at this point? The text is dealing with the Kohathite clans and their task. In their involvement with the ark and the other “most holy things” (4.19), they were exposed to more danger than the other Levite clans. So Aaron’s son Eleazar was given a specific responsibility for the Kohathites in view of their special needs (so Budd, page 40; compare 4.15-20).

And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites: In many languages the rendering Eleazar the son of Aaron may wrongly suggest that Eleazar was Aaron’s only son. “Eleazar son of Aaron” (Good News Translation) is more accurate. Revised Standard Version adds the past tense verb was to be (see the comments on verse 25). The Hebrew lacks any verb in this verse. Compare King James Version, Russian Synodal Orthodox Version and Luther, which use non-past tense verbs. Chief over the leaders of the Levites is literally “chief of the chiefs of the Levites.” Both chief and leaders render the Hebrew word nasiʾ (see the comments on 1.16). The repetition of this word underlines Eleazar’s important position. Good News Translation renders this phrase as “The chief of the Levites,” which does not convey the repetition at all. Even if such repetition is not stylistically acceptable in some languages, Revised Standard Version provides a better model than Good News Translation. Other good models are “The head chieftain of the Levites” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “the great one of the leaders of the Levites” (Chewa).

And to have oversight of those who had charge of the sanctuary: The Hebrew word for oversight of may be rendered “responsibility for” (similarly New Living Translation). Who had charge of the sanctuary renders the same Hebrew clause translated “attending to the duties of the sanctuary” in verse 28 (see the comments there). This clause refers to the Kohathites here as well as in verse 28. Good News Translation says “who carried out the duties in the Holy Place.”

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 .

Moses wrote down …: The Pentateuch rarely refers to Moses writing. He wrote down the Law (Exo 24.4; 34.27; Deut 31.9, 24), the curse against Amalek (Exo 17.14), his final song (Deut 31.22), and this itinerary. This is the only place in Numbers that mentions Moses writing. Moses is rather known as the spokesman for the LORD (see, for example, 30.1).

Their starting places, stage by stage … these are their stages according to their starting places: The Hebrew text features a chiastic arrangement here, perhaps to reflect the people’s disciplined marching order. It reads literally as follows:

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 .