This paragraph has no parallel with the tribes that follow in verses 12-50. It is specifically about one of the Reubenite clans, the Palluites, of which Dathan and Abiram were members. The parentheses in Good News Translation (and Contemporary Russian Version) may give the wrong suggestion to some readers that this information is unimportant. In fact, it stands as a warning (verse 10). The point of the paragraph is actually to summarize and refer to the leadership role of Dathan and Abiram in the rebellion of Num 16. It is better to print verses 8-11 as one paragraph, without parentheses.

Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation use past tense verbs here. In some languages a different tense will have to be used to show that this paragraph refers to an event that had already happened before this census (for example, rendering contended as “had contended”). This is done in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Bijbel in Gewone Taal, De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling, and Willibrordvertaling.

And the sons of Pallu: Eliab: The Hebrew uses the standard formulaic phrase the sons of even though only one son is mentioned here. New International Version and Revised English Bible change sons to “son” to fit this context. Good News Translation combines this phrase with following one (The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram), saying “8 The descendants of Pallu were Eliab 9 and his sons Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram.” This will be a helpful model in a number of languages. It solves the problem of the plural word sons without giving up the formulaic style.

These are the Dathan and Abiram, chosen from the congregation: For chosen from the congregation, compare 1.16. Here it means Dathan and Abiram were chosen as leaders by their fellow Israelites (see 16.2).

Who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the LORD: The Hebrew verb rendered contended twice literally means “to fight, have a fight with.” Bijbel in Gewone Taal and De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling say “had resisted.” In some languages it may not be possible to use the same verb for resisting humans (Moses and Aaron) and the LORD. However, in English the verb “rebelled” (New Revised Standard Version) would work. As in 16.5, the Hebrew word for company is ʿedah, which usually means “community.” As there, the company of Korah refers to “the followers of Korah” (Good News Translation), not to the whole Israelite community. See the comments on 16.5 for the sarcastic use of ʿedah here.

And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died: For the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, see the comments on 16.30. That company refers to Korah’s followers. Company renders the Hebrew word ʿedah again.

When the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: See 16.35.

And they became a warning: The pronoun they refers to all of Korah’s followers, including Dathan and Abiram. The Hebrew word for warning (nes) is the same one rendered “pole” in 21.8-9. Here it has the sense of a warning sign, a signal. New Living Translation provides a helpful model for this clause, saying “This served as a warning to the entire nation of Israel.” This is the first of three warnings in this chapter, all involving the death of the offenders (see also verses 19 and 61).

Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah did not die: Notwithstanding renders the Hebrew waw conjunction (literally “And”). Here it introduces a contrast with the preceding recall of the death of Korah and his followers. Good News Translation uses the conjunction “But,” and New Living Translation has “However.” The sons of Korah may refer to his immediate sons (so New Living Translation with “However, the sons of Korah did not die that day”) or his descendants (so New International Version with “The line of Korah, however, did not die out”). Either rendering is allowed by the context, for the former one implies the latter one.

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 .