3:31 Their responsibilities included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, and the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, 3 the curtain, and all their service. 4
4:11 “They must spread a blue cloth on the gold altar, and cover it with a covering of fine leather; and they must insert its poles.
23:1 7 Balaam said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.”
1 tc The phrases in this verse seem to be direct objects without verbs. BHS suggests deleting the sign of the accusative (for which see P. P. Saydon, “Meanings and Uses of the Particle אֵת,” VT 14 [1964]: 263-75).
2 tn Heb “for all the service of it [them].”
3 tn The verb is יְשָׁרְתוּ (yÿsharÿtu, “they will serve/minister”). The imperfect tense in this place, however, probably describes what the priests would do, what they used to do. The verb is in a relative clause: “which they would serve with them,” which should be changed to read “with which they would serve.”
4 tn The word is literally “its [their] service.” It describes all the implements that were there for the maintenance of these things.
5 tn The distributive sense is achieved by repetition: “one leader for the day, one leader for the day.”
7 tn The clause is a purpose clause, and the imperfect tense a final imperfect.
9 sn The first part of Balaam’s activity ends in disaster for Balak – he blesses Israel. The chapter falls into four units: the first prophecy (vv. 1-10), the relocation (vv. 11-17), the second prophecy (vv. 18-24), and a further location (vv. 25-30).