And those numbered of them were twenty-three thousand is literally “And their enrolled [males] were 23,000.” Numbered renders the Hebrew verb paqad again (see verse 7), so a better model for this clause is “The number of those enrolled was…” (New Revised Standard Version). Compare 3.39 for the total number of Levite males in the first census.

Every male from a month old and upward: See 3.15, 39.

For they were not numbered among the people of Israel: The Hebrew particle ki rendered for is probably an emphatic marker here, so it is better translated “Indeed.” Numbered is better rendered “enrolled” (New Revised Standard Version) again. After verses 57-58, which are about the enrollment of the Levite clans, this clause may seem odd. In some languages it will be necessary to avoid misunderstanding by saying “They had not been enrolled with the other Israelites” (Bible en français courant, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). In some languages it will be helpful to go even further by using a positive statement here, such as “They were listed separately from the rest of the Israelites” (Good News Bible; similarly Revised English Bible, NBV). It is important to avoid the suggestion that the Levites were not Israelites.

Because there was no inheritance given to them among the people of Israel: See 18.23. For the Hebrew word rendered inheritance (nachalah), see verse 53.

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 .