While Israel dwelt in Shittim: This clause begins a new narrative episode. Apparently, very little time elapsed after Balaam “went to his place” (24.25) and the events recorded in chapter 25 occur. In fact, the events in this chapters could have taken place during the Balaam episodes. It is ironic that very soon after (or even during) Balaam’s amazing prophecies of blessing concerning the Israelites (chapters 23–24), the people again became involved in some shocking apostasy. The Hebrew name Shittim means “acacia trees”. The full name of the place is “Abel-shittim” (33.49), which means “valley of the acacia trees.” Good News Translation says “Acacia Valley,” which is a helpful model. It was located in the foothills of Moab, east of the Jordan River, not far from Jericho (which was west of the Jordan), so it was very close to the Promised Land.

The people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab: In some languages it may be necessary to render the people as “some of the men” (Contemporary English Version), so that the text does not imply that every last one of them was guilty of the sin here. The general expression the people (with probable reference to the men) is repeated three times for emphasis in the first two verses. How could “these people” do such a thing, when they were supposed to behave as the people of God? As verse 2 will show, the meaning of the Hebrew phrase rendered play the harlot with the daughters of Moab is not restricted to “have sexual intercourse with the Moabite women” (Good News Translation). It could also refer to intermarriage with Moabite women, leading to idolatry (so Levine, page 283; Dozeman, page 198). As A Handbook on Leviticus mentions at Lev 17.7, the Hebrew root rendered play the harlot (z n h) is a common expression in the Old Testament to speak of general unfaithfulness and disloyalty toward God (see, for example, Jer 2.20). Where possible, translators should choose a word or phrase that indicates that this weapon was held and thrust (much like a knife on the end of a stick) rather than thrown. The phrase in his hand may be left implied (so Good News Translation).

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 .