And as for the cities which you shall give from the possession of the people of Israel: In some languages this rendering will give the wrong suggestion that these cities are different from those in verses 1-7. Instead, these cities are the same. A clearer model is “When you set aside these towns out of the territory of the Israelites” (Revised English Bible; similarly De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling) or “These towns will come from the property [or, territory/land] of the people of Israel” (New Living Translation). For the Hebrew word rendered possession (ʾachuzzah), see verse 2.

From the larger tribes you shall take many, and from the smaller tribes you shall take few: Similarly to 26.54 and 33.54, the Hebrew does not use any kinship term here, such as tribes. While adding tribes is certainly plausible in this context, it is equally possible to say “take more from the larger groups and less from the smaller” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). In some languages like Chewa, the people of Israel as a whole are referred to as a “tribe” and each of the large family groups as “clans.” Many refers to many cities, and few to few cities.

Each, in proportion to the inheritance which it inherits, shall give of its cities to the Levites: Each may be rendered “each tribe” (Good News Translation, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) or “each group.” For the Hebrew word rendered inheritance (nachalah), see verse 2. New Revised Standard Version has revised in proportion to the inheritance that it inherits to read “in proportion to the inheritance that it obtains.” In many languages it will be more natural to say “according to the size of its territory” (Good News Translation) or “according to the size of its inheritance.” Some languages may have a specific term that refers to “inherited land.”

New Living Translation has the following helpful model for this verse:

• These towns will come [or, you will set aside] from the property of the people of Israel. The larger tribes will give more towns to the Levites, while the smaller tribes will give fewer. Each tribe will give property in proportion to the size of its land.”

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 .