Numbers 3:26

3:26 the hangings of the courtyard, ¹  the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard that surrounded the tabernacle and the altar, and their ropes, plus all the service connected with these things. ² 

Numbers 3:31

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 

Numbers 3:36

3:36 The appointed responsibilities of the Merarites included the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets, its utensils, plus all the service connected with these things, ⁵ 

Numbers 7:5

7:5 “Receive these gifts ⁶  from them, that they may be ⁷  used in doing the work ⁸  of the tent of meeting; and you must give them to the Levites, to every man ⁹  as his service requires.” ¹⁰ 

Numbers 4:19

4:19 but in order that they will live ¹¹  and not die when they approach the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons will go in and appoint ¹²  each man ¹³  to his service and his responsibility.

Numbers 4:49

4:49 According to the word of the Lord they were numbered, ¹⁴  by the authority of Moses, each according to his service and according to what he was to carry. ¹⁵  Thus were they numbered by him, ¹⁶  as the Lord had commanded Moses.

[3:26]  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).

[3:26]  ² tn Heb “for all the service of it [them].”

[3:31]  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.”

[3:31]  ⁴ tn The word is literally “its [their] service.” It describes all the implements that were there for the maintenance of these things.

[3:36]  ⁵ tn Heb “and all their service.” This could possibly be a hendiadys: “and all their working tools.” However, the parallel with v. 26 suggests this is a separate phrase.

[7:5]  ⁷ tn The object is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied.

[7:5]  ⁸ tn The verb is the perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive; following the imperative, this could be given an independent volitive translation (“they shall be”), but more fittingly a subordinated translation expressing the purpose of receiving the gifts.

[7:5]  ⁹ tn The sentence uses the infinitive construct expressing purpose, followed by its cognate accusative: “[that they may be] for doing the work of” (literally, “serving the service of”).

[7:5]  ¹⁰ tn The noun אִישׁ (’ish) is in apposition to the word “Levites,” and is to be taken in a distributive sense: “to the Levites, [to each] man according to his service.”

[7:5]  ¹¹ tn The expression כְּפִי (kÿfi) is “according to the mouth of.” Here, it would say “according to the mouth of his service,” which would mean “what his service calls for.”

[4:19]  ⁹ tn The word order is different in the Hebrew text: Do this…and they will live. Consequently, the verb “and they will live” is a perfect tense with a vav (ו) consecutive to express the future consequence of “doing this” for them.

[4:19]  ¹⁰ tn The perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive continues the instruction for Aaron.

[4:19]  ¹¹ tn The distributive sense is obtained by the repetition, “a man” and “a man.”

[4:49]  ¹¹ tn The verb is the simple perfect tense – “he numbered them.” There is no expressed subject; therefore, the verb can be rendered as a passive.

[4:49]  ¹² tn Or “his burden.”

[4:49]  ¹³ tn The passive form simply reads “those numbered by him.” Because of the cryptic nature of the word, some suggest reading a preterite, “and they were numbered.” This is supported by the Greek, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate. It would follow in the emendation that the relative pronoun be changed to “just as” (כַּאֲשֶׁר, ka’asher). The MT is impossible the way it stands; it can only be rendered into smooth English by adding something that is missing.