The thing seemed good to me: this is more clearly translated “I thought the plan was a good one,” or even “I gave my approval to your plan.” See verse 14.

And I took: see the same use of the verb in verse 15.

One man for each tribe: this is better rendered “one man from each tribe [or, from each of the twelve tribes].”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .