And Moses was very angry: The target language may require an appropriate transitional expression to this next stage in the confrontation, which appears to shift back to the Korah group; for example, And may be rendered “At that point.” Moses was very angry is literally “Moses burned extremely,” which is a figurative expression for intense anger (see the comments on 11.1).

And said to the LORD: The verb said may be rendered “prayed,” so Moses’ words that follow are not seen as commands to the LORD.

Do not respect their offering is literally “Do not turn to their offering,” which means “Do not accept their offering” (New International Version). The pronoun their refers to Korah and his followers. The Hebrew word for offering (minchah) often refers to a cereal offering (see 4.16), but here it is a general term referring back to the offering of incense that Korah and his followers are supposed to give as a test (verses 6-7). Since it has a wider sense here, it may be rendered “offerings” (Good News Translation) or “gifts” (New Century Version).

I have not taken one ass from them: Revised English Bible expresses this clause more emphatically, saying “I have not taken from them so much as a single donkey.” Moses implies that he has no motives of self-interest. This statement is probably a conventional formula through which a leader expresses his innocence (see 1 Sam 12.3, where Samuel makes a similar statement). Ass is not common language in American English. Good News Translation consistently uses the more common word “donkey” (also New Revised Standard Version). In addition, the word ass in English is more often used today in a crude way to refer to a part of a person’s body (the buttocks). For that reason also, “donkey” is preferable. Translators in other languages will not have the same problem here that English has, but they need to be aware constantly of how words will sound when they are read. The pronoun them refers to Korah and his followers.

And I have not harmed one of them: Moses’ claims here may be viewed as progressing from the lesser wrong (taking a donkey) to the greater evil (harming a person), or from the specific to the general. In any case, languages may prefer to shift the order of the last two clauses in this verse; for example, Good News Translation has “I have not wronged any of them; I have not even taken one of their donkeys.”

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 .