Numbers 21:18

21:18 The well which the princes ¹  dug,

which the leaders of the people opened

with their scepters and their staffs.”

And from the wilderness they traveled to Mattanah;

Numbers 18:6

18:6 I myself have chosen ²  your brothers the Levites from among the Israelites. They are given to you as a gift from the Lord, to perform the duties ³  of the tent of meeting.

[21:18]  ¹ sn The brief song is supposed to be an old workers’ song, and so the mention of leaders and princes is unusual. Some think they are given credit because they directed where the workers were to dig. The scepter and staff might have served some symbolic or divining custom.

[18:6]  ² tn Heb “taken.”

[18:6]  ³ tn The infinitive construct in this sentence is from עָבַד (’avad), and so is the noun that serves as its object: to serve the service.