And they rose up early on the morrow uses a word that means to do something early in the day. When it is not specified what is done, then it means to rise up early. Since the rest of the verse tells us what the people did, it is not necessary to say they rose up early. Good News Translation has “Early the next morning they brought some animals,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “early next day, the people offered up burnt offerings.”

And offered burnt offerings is literally “and they caused burnt offerings to ascend.” The word for burnt offering (ʿolah) is explained at 29.18. It is derived from the word ʿalah, which means “to ascend.” This does not necessarily mean that the people took over the work of the priest. Good News Translation says it less directly, “they brought some animals to burn as sacrifices,” which allows for Aaron to supervise the ceremony. And brought peace offerings is literally “and they caused settlement sacrifices to come near.” The word for “settlement sacrifice” (shelem) is explained at 29.28, but see also the comments at 20.24 and 24.5.

And the people sat down to eat follows the Hebrew literally. And drink is literally “and they drank.” It is not stated what they drank, but the implication is that it was an intoxicating drink, possibly wine. Therefore in languages where this has to be specified, it may be necessary to say “and they drank intoxicating liquor.” And rose up to play, literally “and they stood up to play,” uses a word that suggests sexual play, especially since it is associated with drinking. (The word is translated as “fondling” in Gen 26.8.) Good News Translation has “an orgy of drinking and sex.” Others are less explicit: “to indulge in revelry” (New International Version), “and then rose to dance” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). It is also possible to say “and they rose to dance in a shameful [or, immoral] way.”

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .