Bilangan 2:33

2:33 But the Levites were not numbered among the other Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Bilangan 10:30

10:30 But Hobab ¹  said to him, “I will not go, but I will go instead to my own land and to my kindred.”

Bilangan 11:14

11:14 I am not able to bear this entire people alone, ²  because it ³  is too heavy for me!

Bilangan 16:12

16:12 Then Moses summoned ⁴  Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come up. ⁵ 

Bilangan 23:20

23:20 Indeed, I have received a command ⁶  to bless;

he has blessed, ⁷  and I cannot reverse it. ⁸ 

Bilangan 33:14

33:14 They traveled from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.

[10:30]  ¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Hobab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[11:14]  ² tn The word order shows the emphasis: “I am not able, I by myself, to bear all this people.” The infinitive לָשֵׂאת (lase’t) serves as the direct object of the verb. The expression is figurative, for bearing or carrying the people means being responsible for all their needs and cares.

[11:14]  ³ tn The subject of the verb “heavy” is unstated; in the context it probably refers to the people, or the burden of caring for the people. This responsibility was turning out to be a heavier responsibility than Moses anticipated. Alone he was totally inadequate.

[16:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “Moses sent to summon.” The verb קָרָא (qara’) followed by the lamed (ל) preposition does not mean “call to” but “summon.” This is a command performance; for them to appear would be to submit to Moses’ authority. This they will not do.

[16:12]  ⁵ tn The imperfect tense נַעֲלֶה (na’aleh) expresses their unwillingness to report: “we are not willing,” or “we will not.” The verb means “to go up.” It is used in the sense of appearing before an authority or a superior (see, e.g., Gen 46:31; Deut 25:7; Judg 4:5).

[23:20]  ⁶ 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.

[23:20]  ⁷ 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.

[23:20]  ⁸ 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.