Numbers 10:4-6

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. Numbers 10:4 tn Heb “they shall assemble themselves.”
2. Numbers 10:5 tn The word for an alarm is תְּרוּעָה (t^eruʿah). The root verb of this word means “to give a blast on the trumpet.” It may also on occasion mean “give a shout” in battle (Josh 6:10). In this passage it must refer to the sound of the trumpet.
3. Numbers 10:5 tn Heb “the camps that are camping.”
4. Numbers 10:5 tn The perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive functions as the equivalent of the imperfect tense. Here the emphasis is on the start of the journey.
5. Numbers 10:6 tc The MT does not mention the departures of the northerly and westerly tribes. The Greek text completes the description by adding them, making a full schedule of the departure of the groups of tribes. The Greek is not likely to be original, however, since it carries all the signs of addition to complete the text, making a smooth, full reading. The MT is to be preferred; it apparently used two of the groups to give the idea.
6. Numbers 10:6 tn The Hebrew text has “they shall blow an alarm”; the sentence without a formal subject should be taken as a passive idea.