Numbers 5:20

5:20 But if you¹ have gone astray while under your husband’s authority, and if you have defiled yourself and some man other than your husband has had sexual relations with you….”²

Numbers 11:11

11:11 And Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you afflicted³ your servant? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that⁴ you lay the burden of this entire people on me?

Numbers 11:20

11:20 but a whole month,⁵ until it comes out your nostrils and makes you sick,⁶ because you have despised⁷ the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why⁸ did we ever come out of Egypt?”’”

Numbers 18:8

The Portion of the Priests

18:8 The Lord spoke to Aaron, “See, I have given you the responsibility for my raised offerings; I have given all the holy things of the Israelites to you as your priestly portion⁹ and to your sons as a perpetual ordinance.

Numbers 18:20

Duties of the Levites

18:20 The Lord spoke to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion of property¹⁰ among them – I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.

Numbers 21:7

21:7 Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord that he would take away¹¹ the snakes from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

Numbers 22:30

22:30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am not I your donkey that you have ridden ever since I was yours until this day? Have I ever attempted¹² to treat you this way?”¹³ And he said, “No.”

Numbers 32:5

32:5 So they said, “If we have found favor in your sight,¹⁴ let this land be given to your servants for our inheritance. Do not have us cross¹⁵ the Jordan River.”¹⁶

¹tn The pronoun is emphatic – “but you, if you have gone astray.”

²tn This is an example of the rhetorical device known as aposiopesis, or “sudden silence.” The sentence is broken off due to the intensity or emphasis of the moment. The reader is left to conclude what the sentence would have said.

³tn The verb is the Hiphil of רָעַע (ra’a’, “to be evil”). Moses laments (with the rhetorical question) that God seems to have caused him evil.

⁴tn The infinitive construct with the preposition is expressing the result of not finding favor with God (see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 12-13, §57). What Moses is claiming is that because he has been given this burden God did not show him favor.

⁵tn Heb “a month of days.” So also in v. 21.

⁶tn The expression לְזָרָה (lÿzarah) has been translated “ill” or “loathsome.” It occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible. The Greek text interprets it as “sickness.” It could be nausea or vomiting (so G. B. Gray, Numbers [ICC], 112) from overeating.

⁷sn The explanation is the interpretation of their behavior – it is in reality what they have done, even though they would not say they despised the Lord. They had complained and shown a lack of faith and a contempt for the program, which was in essence despising the Lord.

⁸tn The use of the demonstrative pronoun here (“why is this we went out …”) is enclitic, providing emphasis to the sentence: “Why in the world did we ever leave Egypt?”

⁹tn This is an uncommon root. It may be connected to the word “anoint” as here (see RSV). But it may also be seen as an intended parallel to “perpetual due” (see Gen 47:22; Exod 29:28; Lev 6:11 [HT]).

¹⁰tn The phrase “of property” is supplied as a clarification.

¹¹tn The verb is the Hiphil jussive with a vav (ו) consecutive from the verb סוּר (sur); after the imperative this form may be subordinated to become a purpose clause.

¹²tn Here the Hiphil perfect is preceded by the Hiphil infinitive absolute for emphasis in the sentence.

¹³tn Heb “to do thus to you.”

¹⁴tn Heb “eyes.”

¹⁵tn The verb is the Hiphil jussive from עָבַר (’avar, “to cross over”). The idea of “cause to cross” or “make us cross” might be too harsh, but “take across” with the rest of the nation is what they are trying to avoid.

¹⁶tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity.