The LORD said to Moses, literally “And Yahweh spoke unto Moses,” is identical with the opening of the first dialogue in 32.7. Depart, go up hence is literally “you go, you ascend from this [place].” This is in sharp contrast with 32.7, where Yahweh says “You go, you descend.” In both cases the “you” is singular. You and the people, however, now includes the Israelites. Whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt is literally “whom you [singular] caused to ascend from the land of Egypt.” The same expression is used in 32.7. (See the comment on brought up at 3.8.)

To the land of which I swore, literally “unto the land which I swore,” repeats the words of Moses in 32.13. (See the comment there on the meaning of swore.) To Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob again refers to the three patriarchs, but here the name Jacob is used instead of “Israel.” Saying introduces the exact words of Yahweh to the patriarchs. Yahweh is quoting himself. To your descendants I will give it is literally “to your [singular] seed I will give it.” The word for descendants is singular in form, but it is a collective noun, like “offspring” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). Contemporary English Version reorders the clauses of this verse as follows:

• The LORD said to Moses:
You led the people of Israel out of Egypt. Now get ready to lead them to the land I promised their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

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 .