Numbers 5:16

5:16 “‘Then the priest will bring her near and have her stand 1  before the Lord.

Numbers 8:18

8:18 So I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn sons among the Israelites.

Numbers 14:17

14:17 So now, let the power of my Lord 2  be great, just as you have said,

Numbers 14:20

14:20 Then the Lord said, “I have forgiven them as you asked. 3 

Numbers 23:20

23:20 Indeed, I have received a command 4  to bless;

he has blessed, 5  and I cannot reverse it. 6 

Numbers 31:15

31:15 Moses said to them, “Have you allowed all the women to live? 7 

1 tn The verb is the Hiphil of the word “to stand.” It could be rendered “station her,” but that sounds too unnatural. This is a meeting between an accused person and the Judge of the whole earth.

2 tc The form in the text is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay), the word that is usually used in place of the tetragrammaton. It is the plural form with the pronominal suffix, and so must refer to God.

3 tn Heb “forgiven according to your word.” The direct object, “them,” is implied.

4 tn The Hebrew text simply has “I have received [to] bless.” The infinitive is the object of the verb, telling what he received. Balaam was not actually commanded to bless, but was given the word of blessing so that he was given a divine decree that would bless Israel.

5 sn The reference is probably to the first speech, where the Lord blessed Israel. Balaam knows that there is nothing he can do to reverse what God has said.

6 tn The verb is the Hiphil of שׁוּב (shuv), meaning “to cause to return.” He cannot return God’s word to him, for it has been given, and it will be fulfilled.

7 tn The verb is the Piel perfect of the word חָיָה (khayah, “to live”). In the Piel stem it must here mean “preserve alive,” or “allow to live,” rather than make alive.