Discovery BoxNumbers 4:6 
Context4:6 Then they must put over it a covering of fine leather 1 and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue, and then they must insert its poles.
Numbers 5:3
Context5:3 You must expel both men and women; you must put them outside the camp, so that 2 they will not defile their camps, among which I live.”
Numbers 15:35
Context15:35 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must surely be put to death; the whole community must stone 3 him with stones outside the camp.”
Numbers 16:18
Context16:18 So everyone took his censer, put fire in it, and set incense on it, and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting, with Moses and Aaron.
Numbers 20:26
Context20:26 Remove Aaron’s priestly garments 4 and put them on Eleazar his son, and Aaron will be gathered to his ancestors 5 and will die there.”
Numbers 22:17
Context22:17 For I will honor you greatly, 6 and whatever you tell me I will do. So come, put a curse on this nation for me.’”
Numbers 23:5
Context23:5 Then the Lord put a message 7 in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and speak what I tell you.” 8
Numbers 23:16
Context23:16 Then the Lord met Balaam and put a message 9 in his mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and speak what I tell you.”
Numbers 35:16
Context35:16 “But if he hits someone with an iron tool so that he dies, 10 he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death.
Numbers 35:31
Context35:31 Moreover, you must not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; he must surely be put to death.
1 tn The exact meaning of the Hebrew word here is difficult to determine. The term תַּחַשׁ (takhash) has been translated “badgers’ [skins]” by KJV. ASV has “sealskin” while RSV uses “goatskin”; NEB and NASB have “porpoise skin,” and NIV has “hides of sea cows.” This is close to “porpoise,” and seems influenced by the Arabic. The evidence is not strong for any of these meanings, and some of the suggestions would be problematic. It is possible the word is simply used for “fine leather,” based on the Egyptian ths. This has been followed by NRSV (“fine leather”) and NLT (“fine goatskin leather”) along with the present translation. See further HALOT 1720-21 s.v. תַּחַשׁ.
2 tn The imperfect tense functions here as a final imperfect, expressing the purpose of putting such folks outside the camp. The two preceding imperfects (repeated for emphasis) are taken here as instruction or legislation.
3 tn The sentence begins with the emphatic use of the infinitive absolute with the verb in the Hophal imperfect: “he shall surely be put to death.” Then, a second infinitive absolute רָגוֹם (ragom) provides the explanatory activity – all the community is to stone him with stones. The punishment is consistent with other decrees from God (see Exod 31:14,15; 35:2). Moses had either forgotten such, or they had simply neglected to (or were hesitant to) enact them.
4 tn The word “priestly” is supplied in the translation for clarity.
5 tn Heb “will be gathered”; this is a truncated form of the usual expression “gathered to his ancestors,” found in v. 24. The phrase “to his ancestors” is supplied in the translation here.
6 tn The construction uses the Piel infinitive כַּבֵּד (kabbed) to intensify the verb, which is the Piel imperfect/cohortative אֲכַבֶּדְךָ (’akhabbedkha). The great honor could have been wealth, prestige, or position.
7 tn Heb “word.”
8 tn Heb “and thus you shall speak.”
9 tn Heb “word.”
10 tn the verb is the preterite of “die.” The sentence has :“if…he strikes him and he dies.” The vav (ו) consecutive is showing the natural result of the blow.
