And their charge was to be …: See the comments on verse 25. As there, the Hebrew lacks a past tense verb, or any verb, for that matter. King James Version, Russian Synodal Orthodox Version, and Luther translate this verse with a present or future tense, thus showing more clearly that the text is instructional.
The ark was the wooden box in which the Israelites kept the text of God’s covenant with them on the two stone tablets (see Exo 25.10-22; 37.1-9), so Good News Translation says “the Covenant Box.” Because of its size and for stylistic reasons, it may be better to say “chest” rather than “box,” which may suggest something quite flimsy or temporary, such as a cardboard box in English. Also, it may not be necessary to include the word “covenant” since it is not mentioned in the Hebrew here. So “the Chest” (La Nouvelle Bible Segond) and “the sacred chest” (Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant) are good models.
The table was the table with the sacred loaves of bread on it, the bread that symbolized the LORD’s presence and provision for his people (see Exo 25.23-30; 37.10-16). Contemporary English Version specifies the function of this table by saying “the table for the sacred bread,” and so does Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch with “the table with the dedicated loaves.” Similar models are “the table for the bread that had been set apart” and “the table for special bread.”
The lampstand was an ornamental stand with branches for holding seven oil lamps (see Exo 25.31-40; 37.17-24). Possible models for lampstand are “thing for setting lamps upon” and “lamp holder.”
The altars refers to two altars: one for sacrificing animals on it (see verse 26) and one for burning incense on it (see Exo 30.1-10; 37.25-28).
The vessels of the sanctuary with which the priests minister: Vessels is better rendered more generically as “utensils” (Good News Translation), “articles” (New International Version), or “implements” since not all these objects were containers; they included other pieces of equipment. For sanctuary, which renders the Hebrew word qodesh, see the comments on verse 28. With which the priests minister is literally “with which they minister/serve.” In the target language it may be necessary to mention explicitly who did the ministering. Revised Standard Version makes the priests explicit (so also Good News Translation). Renderings for this whole phrase that avoid an explicit subject of the verb are “the utensils used in the sanctuary” (Bible en français courant) and “the articles of the sanctuary used in ministering” (New International Version).
The screen was the curtain in front of the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle (see Exo 26.31-34; 36.35-36). This screen is not to be confused with “the screen for the door of the tent of meeting” in verse 25, so Good News Translation says “the curtain at the entrance to the Most Holy Place.” Bible en français courant is more concise with “the inner curtain of the dwelling-place [that is, the Tabernacle].” Another possible model is “the inner curtain dividing the Tent of Meeting.”
All the service pertaining to these: See the comments on verse 26. In Hebrew this phrase is literally “and all its [the Tabernacle’s] service.” Revised Standard Version follows the Septuagint here, which we prefer. Contemporary English Version provides a helpful model here with “The Kohathites were responsible for setting these things up and taking them down.”
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 .