complete verse (Numbers 2:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 2:21:

  • Kupsabiny:

    Three clans shall spread/set up on the West side and the clan of Ephraim shall be in charge. Those clans are these:

    Clan Leader Number of soldiers
    Ephraim Elishama son of Ammihud 40,500
    Manasseh Gamaliel son of Pedahzur 32,200
    Benjamin Abidan son of Gideoni 35,400

    The total/all is 108,100.
    The community of Ephraim shall be number three following the others.

    (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)

  • Newari: “And their section numbered 32,200 men.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon:

    ‘The tribes of Efraim, Manase, and Benjamin are-to-camp on the west, under the banner of their own/[lit. each] tribe. These are the names of their leaders/[lit. heads] and numbers of their people/men:

    Tribe Leader Number
    Efraim Elishama son/child of Amiud 40,500
    Manase 32,200 Gamaliel son/child Pedazur 32,200
    Benjamin Abidan son/child of Gideoni 35,400

    (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

  • English: “Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, will be the leader of the 32,200 men of the tribe of Manasseh.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 2:18 - 2:24

Most of the comments on verses 3-9 apply here as well.

On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim means Ephraim and the other tribes in its group must camp on the west side of the Tent of Meeting. In many languages the cardinal point west is translated in reference to the setting of the sun. The west side in Hebrew is literally “seaward” since it is in reference to the Mediterranean Sea. The camp of Ephraim refers to the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin.

The leader of the people of Ephraim being Elishama the son of Ammihud: See 1.10.

And next to him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: This clause is slightly different from the parallel clauses in verses 5, 12 and 27, since it is lacking “those to encamp” in the Hebrew. But in this context this variation does not lead to a difference in meaning. The pronoun him refers to the tribe of Ephraim. Contemporary English Version makes this clear by rendering this clause as “On one side of Ephraim will be the tribe of Manasseh.”

The leader of the people of Manasseh being Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur: See 1.10.

In some languages it will be more natural and seem less repetitive if Then the tribe of Benjamin (verse 22) is moved to the beginning of verse 20, combining it with the tribe of Manasseh as follows: “Those [to camp] next to the tribe of Ephraim shall be the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin….”

The leader of the people of Benjamin being Abidan the son of Gideoni: See 1.11.

They shall set out third on the march: The pronoun They refers to the three tribes under the banner of Ephraim. Set out … on the march renders the same Hebrew verb as at the end of verse 9 (see the comments there).

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 .

Translation commentary on Numbers 22:1

Then the people of Israel set out, and encamped … is a typical and characteristic starting point of a new narrative paragraph in Numbers, as mentioned in the introductory comments above. Set out renders the Hebrew verb translated “set out … on the march” in 2.9 (see the comments there). For encamped see 1.50.

In the plains of Moab: In this context the Hebrew word for plains is better translated “unforested grasslands,” “prairies,” or “steppes” (New Jewish Publication Society Version). The journey through the desert is now at an end; this verse marks the end of the “journey motif” in the book of Numbers. The rest of the book is located in the steppes of Moab.

Beyond the Jordan at Jericho: The Old Testament expression beyond the Jordan should be understood from the perspective of the land of Canaan (which was west of the Jordan River), so this phrase refers to the land “east of the Jordan” (Good News Bible), which translators should make clear. Coming directly after this phrase, at Jericho may wrongly suggest that this city was located east of the Jordan. Jericho was actually located 9 kilometers (5.5 miles) west of the Jordan. Renderings for this whole phrase that express this clearly are “across the Jordan from Jericho” (New Revised Standard Version), “east of the Jordan and opposite Jericho” (Good News Bible, Dutch Common Language Version), and “on the eastern bank of the Jordan, facing Jericho” (Bible en français courant). Jericho was the first city that the Israelites attacked in their conquest of the land of Canaan.

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 .