Numbers 4:20

4:20 But the Kohathites ¹  are not to go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, or they will die.”

Numbers 5:28

5:28 But if the woman has not defiled herself, and is clean, then she will be free of ill effects ²  and will be able to bear children.

Numbers 26:11

26:11 But the descendants of Korah did not die.

Numbers 31:18

31:18 But all the young women ³  who have not had sexual intercourse with a man ⁴  will be yours. ⁵ 

Numbers 32:27

32:27 but your servants will cross over, every man armed for war, to do battle in the Lord’s presence, just as my lord says.”

Numbers 32:30

32:30 But if they do not cross over with you armed, they must receive possessions among you in Canaan.”

Numbers 35:22

35:22 “But if he strikes him suddenly, without enmity, or throws anything at him unintentionally,

[4:20]  ¹ tn In the Hebrew text the verse has as the subject “they,” but to avoid confusion the antecedent has been clarified in the translation.

[5:28]  ² tn Heb “will be free”; the words “of ill effects” have been supplied as a clarification.

[31:18]  ³ tn Or “girls.” The Hebrew indicates they would be female children, making the selection easy.

[31:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “who have not known [a] man by lying with a man.”

[31:18]  ⁵ sn Many contemporary scholars see this story as fictitious, composed by the Jews during the captivity. According to this interpretation, the spoils of war here indicate the wealth of the Jews in captivity, which was to be given to the Levites and priests for the restoration of the sanctuary in Jerusalem. The conclusion drawn from this interpretation is that returning Jews had the same problem as the earlier ones: to gain a foothold in the land. Against this interpretation of the account is a lack of hard evidence, a lack which makes this interpretation appear contrived and subjective. If this was the intent of a later writer, he surely could have stated this more clearly than by making up such a story.