So there were provided …: Were provided (similarly “were supplied” in New International Version) is a rather broad translation of the rare Hebrew verb here. More precise renderings are “were numbered” (Septuagint) and “were chosen” (Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Peshitta). Compare also “were conscripted” (New Revised Standard Version) and “recruited” (De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling, Willibrordvertaling). For languages that do not have passive verbs, New Living Translation provides a possible model here with “So they chose….”

Out of the thousands of Israel: Good News Translation omits this significant qualification concerning the soldiers chosen to attack the Midianites. More men could have been conscripted for this battle, and from a human perspective, this should have been done. However, a large army was not necessary, for the LORD was in charge of military operations (see verse 7). Chewa keeps this phrase by saying “among the many-many men of Israel.” New International Version says “from the clans of Israel,” since the Hebrew word for thousands (ʾelef) can also mean “clans” (see the comments on 1.20-46).

A thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war: Armed renders a different form of the Hebrew verb translated “Arm” in verse 3 (see the comments there). The Hebrew word for war is tsavaʾ, as in verses 3-4. Armed for war may be rendered “battle-ready” (similarly Good News Translation).

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .