The Hebrew that is translated as “offering” in English is translated in Venda as nduvho. J. A. van Rooy (in The Bible Translator 1974, p. 439ff. ) explains: “It is derived from the verb u luvha (‘to pay homage to; to acknowledge the superiority of; at the same time usually asking for a favour’). It is sometimes used as a synonym for ‘asking something from a chief. The noun nduvho means ‘a gift of allegiance,’ which corresponds closely with minchah (מִנְחָה) as ‘offering of allegiance.’ This term nduvho has in it the elements of subjugation, of reciprocity (asking for a favor), of being taken up into the same community as the chief in allegiance to him. Only the element of expiation is missing.”
In Northern Emberá, it is translated as “given to God freely.” (Source: Loewen 1980, p. 108)
For these three verses see the comments on verses 17-19, which are almost identical. There are only three differences. First, verse 20 begins with On the third day instead of “On the second day.” Second, the bulls decrease in number by one, so verse 20 says eleven bulls. Finally, verse 22 says its drink offering instead of “their drink offerings.” The pronoun its refers to the continual burnt offering.
The problem with Good News Translation‘s reduction of the text in verses 21-22 is the same as in verses 18-19 (see the comments there). This problem with Good News Translation also occurs in the following paragraphs through verse 38.
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 .
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