Numbers 12:12

12:12 Do not let her be like a baby born dead, whose flesh is half-consumed when it comes out of its ¹  mother’s womb!”

Numbers 32:16

The Offer of the Reubenites and Gadites

32:16 Then they came very close to him and said, “We will build sheep folds here for our flocks and cities for our families, ² 

Numbers 32:24

32:24 So build cities for your descendants and pens for your sheep, but do what you have said ³  you would do.”

Numbers 32:26

32:26 Our children, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead,

[12:12]  ¹ tc The words “its mother” and “its flesh” are among the so-called tiqqune sopherim, or “emendations of the scribes.” According to this tradition the text originally had here “our mother” and “our flesh,” but the ancient scribes changed these pronouns from the first person to the third person. Apparently they were concerned that the image of Moses’ mother giving birth to a baby with physical defects of the sort described here was somehow inappropriate, given the stature and importance of Moses.

[32:16]  ² tn Heb “our little ones.”

[32:24]  ³ tn Heb “that which goes out/has gone out of your mouth.”